The earth’s location on the solar system is neither too close to the sun nor too far, where the temperatures would be too extreme to support life. Other planets such as Mars have also been discovered in the habitable zone that contains ideal conditions to sustain life. These planets need to meet various requirements such as having an atmosphere to promote life. Some planets within this region are made up of gas and cannot support life. Within the past two decades, scientists have found numerous rocky exoplanets within the habitable zone. Life on other planets is an interesting topic for me because of the possibilities of the existence of aliens and other habitable planets. It would be interesting for people to get the opportunity to live in two planets. Although the earth provides adequate conditions to sustain life, the continued rise in human population and the need to explore the space makes it essential for scientists to search for extraterrestrial life and planets that can support it.
Scientists commonly look at the climatic conditions on earth to understand its link to the other planets in the habitable zone. Being in this area ensures that the water in a planet can be available in liquid form permanently. Researchers in this field utilize evidence collected by astronauts and space telescopes, such as the Hubble and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (Taylor; Canizares et al.). These telescopes examine star formation and the existence of other galaxies. Space and the potential of life on other planets is a captivating topic as it offers the possibility of the unknown. Robots created by NASA have been used to collect information in places where life might have thrived in the past. Although the idea of visiting these planets is farfetched, I often daydream about them, while wondering if the future will be characterized by simplified space travel systems that will offer people glimpses of life on different planets. Every time I think about the prospect of life on another planet, I usually lose track of time because of the endless possibilities of the existence of aliens and planets other than earth that can sustain crop production or human life.
I find this topic captivating because space holds the possibility of extraterrestrial life and other planets that could be inhabited by living organisms. Although more research needs to be conducted to determine the habitability of planets such as Mars, finding those that can support life might solve population problems that are likely to affect the earth in the future. Viewing galaxies and stars through a telescope makes me excited about the nature of their condition. Through concepts such as the Big Bang theory that attempts to explain the formation of the planets, I have developed an interest in the creation of stars and the future of the space studies.
Whenever I want to learn more about space and extraterrestrial life, I look for information on the NASA website. The website updates information collected by the telescopes in space and discusses studies on evidence captured by these tools. Other sources of data that have fed my interest in this field include the use of cosmology books, research articles, and space analysis websites, and consulting teachers and students with interest in this field.
All the discoveries made on life outside the earth were initiated due to human curiosity. Perhaps my curiosity and that of other scientists out there will lead to the rise of another discovery. While scientists advance their studies on space science, more developments about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life continue to emerge. The universe is vast and contains millions of stars and planets. The physiological abilities of some organisms that survive under extreme environmental conditions on earth make it possible for the survival of extraterrestrial life in other planets.
Works Cited
Canizares, Claude R., et al. “The Chandra High-Energy Transmission Grating: Design, Fabrication, Ground Calibration, and 5 Years in Flight.” Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 117, (2005,): 1144-1171. iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/432898/pdf. Accessed 2 October 2018Web.
Taylor, Nola. “Hubble Space Telescope: Pictures, Facts, & History.” Space.com, 14 December 2017. www.space.com/15892-hubble-space-telescope.html. Accessed 2 October 2018.