SIM PlanetQuest: The Search for Spock

NASA astronomers are about to commence a planet-finding mission that could detect the star 40 Eridani -- the star Gene Roddenberry speculates is the Vulcan planet's home star. And it's only about 16 light-years away.

Science fiction may soon become science fact. Astronomers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have recently concluded that the upcoming planet-finding mission, SIM PlanetQuest, would be able to detect an Earth-like planet around the star 40 Eridani, a planet familiar to "Star Trek" fans as "Vulcan." 40 Eridani, a triple-star system 16 light-years from Earth, includes a red-orange K dwarf star slightly smaller and cooler than our sun. Vulcan is thought to orbit that dwarf star, called 40 Eridani A. [..]

If Vulcan life were to exist on the planet, the orbit of the planet would have to lie in a sweet spot around the star where liquid water could be present on its surface. Water is an essential ingredient for any organism to live long and prosper. For 40 Eridani A, this spot, or "habitable zone," is 0.6 astronomical units from the star. That means Vulcans would get to celebrate a birthday about every six months.

Angelle Tanner, an astronomer working on the project, suggests that any humanoid life forms on the planet would probably be pale due to the wavelengths of light emitted by Eridani 40.

A cool video is available in QuickTime format depicting an artist's rendition of the Vulcan planet. (640x360 8.2mb, 480x270 4.5mb)

A quote from Tanner's site:

We live on a beautiful planet. It's my life goal to find another one just like it.

Many of us support that same goal. Let's hope this mission lives long and prospers.

Mission Could Seek Out Spock's Home Planet [NASA PlanetQuest]

(Read our earlier coverage on the earth-like Gliese 581c, about 20.5 light-years away, or just view the pretty pictures.)