Oolite Bulletins

Interesting, if true!

Scientists call a planet already Earth-like if it has a solid surface, similar mass and size. Unlike science fiction where it means life-friendly. Mars and Venus are both Earth-like. And about in our sun's habitable zone. Earth-like means nothing, unfortunately.

True, "earth-like" could mean a lot of things, but this one - if it's there - could be close enough for good spectrographic analysis of any atmosphere.

It is so near that it "can be reached by spaceships", as I've read on a local newspaper page. In wonder what the author had in mind - perhaps a Python?

Breakthrough Starshot aims to demonstrate proof of concept for ultra-fast light-driven nanocrafts, and lay the foundations for a first launch to Alpha Centauri within the next generation.

I guess they may be thinking of a small diversion to Proxima instead.

Scientists mostly believe that the dim Proxima is gravitationally linked to Alpha Centauri, so it is a Triple star system, not just binary.

At times Proxima Centauri is approaching Earth at about 5 kilometres per hour — normal human walking pace — and at times receding at the same speed.

<chortles> ESO announcement here.