heliopsis

It's roughly Earth sized, but way too close to Alpha Centauri B: the surface temperature would be hotter than lava. But if there's one planet, there could be others, and the Alpha Centauri system is only 4 light years away. It would be possible to visit there and come back, using feasible technology, over the course of a long (and relativistically lengthened) life. I find this delightful. There are 842 known exoplanets as of today, but this one makes me happier than all the rest.

This blog post sums up my feelings nicely. I find it incredibly exciting to be alive in the era when humankind discovers planets orbiting other stars. I probably won't live to see humans explore such a planet, but it delights me to know there's a (horribly inhospitable) planet so tantalizingly close.

Ad astra!