This month, two rockets were heard to be launched from Australia, carrying out experiments to determine whether the ultraviolet light emitted by Alpha . stars
This month, two rockets were heard to be launched from Australia, carrying out experiments to determine whether the ultraviolet light emitted by stars from the Alpha Centauri system is detrimental to potential life on planets around them. The study will also reveal how typical – or abnormal – the sun is. Alpha Centauri consists of two main stars, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B (which form a binary pair), as well as a third star, Proxima Centauri, which is only 4.3 light-years away. While no planets have been detected positively orbiting Alpha Centauri A or B, if they do exist, the ultraviolet radiation from their stars may have a significant impact on whether or not they support life. The right amount of ultraviolet light can break down simple organic molecules, such as methane, prompting molecular fragments to reshape the more complex molecules necessary for life. On the other hand, too much ultraviolet could separate out water vapor, make it escape from the planet’s atmosph