8bitcollective

Gliese 581 c, also cataloged as HO Librae c and or Wolf 562 c, is a "super-earth" or large terrestrial extrasolar planet orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581. Assuming the planet's mass is close to the lower limit determined by radial velocity measurements (the true mass is unknown), it would be the smallest known extrasolar planet around a main sequence star to date. Gliese 581 c generated a lot of interest because it was initially reported to be the first potentially Earth-like planet in the habitable zone of its star, with a temperature right for liquid water on its surface, and by extention, potentially capable of supporting Earth-like life. However, further study, considering the potential effects of the planetary atmosphere, casts doubt upon the habitability of Gliese 581 c and indicates that Gliese 581 d, the third planet in the system is a better candiate for habitability. The planet is astronomically close, at 20.4 light years (193 trillion km or 119 trillion miles) from Earth in the direction of the constellation of Libra. This distance, along with the declination and right ascension coordinates, give the planet's exact location in our galaxy. Its star is identified as Gliese 581 by its number in the Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars; it is the 87th closest known star system to the Sun.