They’re all reborn, what’s wrong with being a little more almighty?

Chapter 260 Discovering a Second Earth

Gillies 581 is a star in the Libra galaxy. It is in the red dwarf stage. In the vast universe, there are countless such red dwarfs, so they are not conspicuous.

This star is 20.5 light years away from us, which is very close considering the vastness of space. Therefore, Gillis 581 is relatively easy to be observed by the observatory, and more observation data has been obtained.

Gillies 581 is just an ordinary red dwarf star. There is nothing special about it and it is not typical. Probably no one pays attention to the data of such ordinary stars. It is estimated that only people who specialize in studying red dwarfs will pay a little attention to it.

However, after reading the information provided by the devil, Zhang Wei learned that a planet very similar to the Earth, Gillis 581C, was orbiting this red dwarf star.

Looking at the data of Gillis 581, Zhang Wei suddenly said: "Professor Li, stop for a moment."

"What's wrong?" Professor Li asked.

"Let me take another look at the orbital data of Gillis 581."

"Orbital data? Any problem?" Professor Li also looked at the computer screen.

"Have you noticed that this orbital data has deviated?"

"The celestial bodies in the universe do not all move in completely regular orbits. Many reasons can cause the orbits of celestial bodies to deviate. For example, the gravitational force between celestial bodies, celestial events such as supernova explosions, impacts with external celestial bodies, the influence of binary or multiple star systems, etc. This is no big deal," explained Professor Li.

"Then what do you think is the case with the orbital deviation of Gillies 581?" Zhang Wei asked.

"Well, we need to look at the situation of celestial bodies near this star in the same time period." Professor Li was very cautious.

"If there is no supernova explosion, no impact from external celestial bodies, and no influence from binary or multiple star systems, does it mean that the orbital deviation is caused by gravity? If it is caused by gravity, could it be a planet?" Zhang Wei continued.

"You mean, this Gillies 581 is orbited by a planet?"

"Yes, that's what I mean!" Zhang Wei nodded.

Professor Li laughed and said, "Teacher Zhang, you are not going to say that you have discovered a new planet, are you?"

"Yes!" Zhang Wei nodded again.

"Teacher Zhang, do you often see in the news that a certain astronomy enthusiast discovered a new star and then named it after himself, so you also want to name an asteroid for yourself?

Not to mention that celestial bodies in the universe have their own naming rules, the discovery of planets is actually not a big deal. According to current human observations, more than 2800% of the stars in the Milky Way have planets, with a total of about billion.

In other words, if we want to name a planet after ourselves, there are more than 40 planets per person in the Milky Way alone, so we can pick any one we like.

This is just the Milky Way. If you look at the entire universe, the number is infinite! So even if you can prove that Gillis 581 has planets, it is meaningless. "

"Is it meaningless?" Zhang Wei said that he didn't believe it, so he said, "Professor Li, can you give me a copy of the orbital data and spectral data of Gillies 581?"

"What? Are you really going to fight with this Gillis 581?"

"I think it's very interesting. I want to calculate the data of the planets around Gillies 581." Zhang Wei asked with a smile.

"Well, you are really interested in astronomy? If you really plan to come to our place, we welcome you with open arms! I will go to report to the principal immediately!"

"You have to let me know more about your profession! I'm thinking, I'll start with analyzing this Gillis 581." Zhang Wei said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll give you the data, but do you know how to calculate it?" Professor Li asked.

"I don't understand. Professor Li, do you want to come with me? Then you can teach me how to calculate it."

"I don't have the time to play with you!" Professor Li shook his head.

"How about this, find me two graduate students who can do math! Don't worry, I'll provide meals!"

"Okay! Anyway, the school has just started and many projects have not yet started. There are a few graduate students who don't have any work to do right now, so I'll lend it to you for two days!"

……

In the universe, stars are relatively easy to observe. After all, they are luminous. When you look up at the starry sky, a bright spot you see may be a star hundreds of thousands of light years away.

But planets are not so easy to see. Optical telescopes cannot capture slightly farther stars, so scientific methods are needed.

For example, radio telescopes mainly detect and collect radio wave signals, and obtain the physical properties of planets by analyzing these signals.

Another example is the transit method, which is to observe a star. When a planet passes in front of a star, it will inevitably block part of the star's light. The planet can be determined by observing changes in light and brightness. The mass, diameter and orbit of the star can also be calculated based on parameters such as the time and depth of the transit.

Of course, the most reliable way is to collect spectral data based on the Doppler effect, and then calculate the radial velocity change of the planet relative to the star through the wavelength of the object's radiation and the redshift and blueshift phenomena of the stellar spectrum, so as to infer the existence of the planet and its orbital information.

This is the method Zhang Wei intends to use.

If other methods are used, it may still attract doubts from others. But the results of mathematical calculations will not lie. As long as the original data is the same, no matter who calculates it, the result obtained will be the same as one month.

But Zhang Wei really has no research in astronomy. Even if he has all the data given by the devil, he is still completely in the dark. He has no idea how to calculate or why to calculate in that way.

So Zhang Wei originally planned to find a professor of astrophysics to work with him, such as Professor Li in front of him, who looks very pleasing to the eye and seems to be a good fit.

However, at this time, Professor Li was so keen on the data provided by the Lasla Observatory that he had no time to pay attention to Zhang Wei at all.

In this case, only the two graduate students will benefit.

As a graduate student at Tsinghua University, his level is quite good and he knows all the necessary calculation methods.

As for Zhang Wei, although he was completely in the dark, it did not affect his ability to direct the graduate students to work. This was just like his previous scientific research, he just had to do the calculations according to the data provided by the devil.

This is also easier than doing scientific research, which requires doing experiments, and there are too many uncertainties in the experimental process. Temperature, reagents, operating procedures, etc. will all affect the results.

However, pure calculations will not be affected by these external factors. As long as the data is correct and is input into the computer, the calculation results will appear quickly.

……

The two graduate students came to Zhang Wei with their calculation results, and one of them said:
"Teacher Zhang, this is the calculation result you asked for. By calculating the data, we can determine that there is a planet orbiting the star Gillies 581. The part below is the orbit of this planet, but this is only the result of preliminary calculations. For detailed data, more accurate calculations are needed."

Zhang Wei took a look at the data and compared it with the orbital data provided by the devil, and found that this was not the Gillis 581C planet he was looking for, but the Gillis 581B planet.

This is not the result Zhang Wei wanted. Gillies 581B is not an Earth-like planet. There are many such planets in the universe and they have no scientific research value.

"Change a set of data and continue calculating!" Zhang Wei ordered.

"Teacher Zhang, which group should we switch to?" the graduate student asked. "Well, let me think about it!" Zhang Wei said, looking at his watch, and then said, "You've been busy for a long time, and you've worked hard. Go buy some afternoon tea, drinks, milk tea, coffee, snacks, whatever you want to eat."

Zhang Wei took out a hundred yuan and handed it over, then warned: "If you can't spend all the money, you are not allowed to come back!"

"Teacher Zhang, this is too much."

"Then bring me one too! I've been here for half a day and my mouth is dry."

"Teacher Zhang, what would you like to drink?"

"Coke, a big bottle, chilled!" Zhang Wei said and sat down in front, continuing to stare at the data, as if he was thinking.

The two graduate students did not bother Zhang Wei, and happily went to buy snacks and drinks. One hundred yuan in 2006 could buy a lot of snacks and drinks.

After seeing the two graduate students leave, Zhang Wei breathed a sigh of relief, and then found a section among the numerous spectral data.

According to the information provided by the devil, this data can be used to calculate the planet Gillies 581C.

There is so much spectral data for a planet. If Zhang Wei had directly found this data to calculate at the beginning and then discovered the planet Gillies 581C, it would definitely arouse suspicion from others.

We have to do the whole show, so let’s create some twists and turns artificially!

The two graduate students were also very straightforward. They really spent all the 100 yuan before coming back. They bought a big bag of snacks and drinks and mixed them together. They felt like salesmen pushing a cart and hawking goods on the train.

After a simple meal, the two graduate students started calculating again, while Zhang Wei sat aside, holding a 2.5-liter bottle of iced cola and eating snacks.

I picked up a bag of drunkard peanuts. They looked familiar. It seemed that this was the kind that Zhuge Xuegeng treated himself to when he was in Madrid.

"Miserable Zhuge didn't lie to me. I really bought these peanuts at the National Tsinghua University Supermarket."

I opened the package and took a bite, and found that the taste was different. The one in my hand tasted obviously much better.

"I see. The peanuts that stingy Zhuge treated me to in Madrid were all oily! He must have bought them close to the expiration date in order to save money."

……

The two graduate students once again presented the calculated data to Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei took a closer look and found that this was exactly the orbital data of the planet Gillis 581C.

"Through the orbital data of this planet, we should be able to calculate the mass and diameter of this planet, right?" Zhang Wei asked.

"It can be calculated. The principle is Kepler's third law. The cube of the planet's revolution period is proportional to the square of the planet's average distance. We can deduce the mass of the planet through the planet's revolution period and revolution radius around the star. As for the diameter of the planet, we still have to rely on the spectrum to estimate, but there will be some errors."

"Then can the temperature on the planet be calculated?" Zhang Wei asked again.

"The temperature of a planet's surface depends on its distance from the star, as well as the planet's albedo and emissivity. In physics, there is a Stefan-Boltzmann law: the total energy radiated by a black body per unit surface area per unit time is proportional to the fourth power of its surface temperature.

We now have spectral data, so we can use spectroscopy, which is analyzing the spectrum of light reflected or emitted by a planet to infer its temperature.

Generally speaking, the luminous characteristics of a massive celestial body can be approximated as an absolute black body, and then the temperature of the celestial body can be obtained based on the energy distribution of its spectrum at each wavelength point and the corresponding Planck formula.

The same approach works for planets, since all objects above absolute zero emit infrared light.”

"Okay, I want this data!" Zhang Wei said immediately.

The two graduate students looked at each other, and one of them said, "Teacher Zhang Wei, did you find anything from this orbital data?"

"Yes, there is a discovery, but I am not sure yet. At this stage, I am just guessing. But if the guess is true, it is very likely to be a major discovery."

Zhang Wei paused, then continued, "If it is really a major discovery, it will be enough for your department to start a major project. Don't worry, I will personally talk to your department head and let you join the research group, and I will arrange a project for you to do in the research group!"

After hearing what Zhang Wei said, the two were ecstatic and started to calculate happily.

……

The discovery of Gillies 581c is a milestone in astronomy and can even be said to be one of the greatest astronomical discoveries in the first decade of the st century.

First of all, this is the first planet discovered by humans that may be suitable for human habitation, which shows that in the vast universe, there may be planets with environments similar to those of the Earth. And since the Earth can nurture life, it means that other planets with similar environments may also nurture life.

Even if there is no life on Gillis 581c, since the environment of this planet is similar to that of the Earth, in the future when the sun becomes a red giant and the Earth is no longer suitable for human survival, humans can also immigrate to this planet and continue human civilization.

Of course, this is obviously the idea of ​​foreign scientists. Foreigners are always thinking about moving away after the fun is over. The idea of ​​"The Wandering Earth" definitely does not exist in the minds of foreigners.

Of course, it is still too early for humans to explore extraterrestrial life and interstellar migration at this stage. But people can still use Gillis 581c to study the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets.

……

Zhang Wei came to see Professor Li with the calculated results.

Professor Li was very busy, and if it weren't for Zhang Wei, he wouldn't have bothered to pay any attention to him.

"Teacher Zhang, I have a data analysis meeting over there, please keep it short!"

"Professor Li, I have discovered three planets around the star Gillis 581. Here is the calculated data. Could you please take a look?"

"You actually found a planet!" Professor Li took the information impatiently and read it line by line.

Zhang Wei then said, "Professor Li, please pay attention to this, Gillis 581c!"

"581c, anything special?"

Professor Li first looked at the calculated orbital data. It revolves around the star Gillies 581 with an orbital period of 14 days, but he did not see any bright spots.

He looked at the calculated mass of the planet again and frowned slightly.

“质量约为地球的5到7倍，重力约为地球的1.5倍到1.7倍。根据光谱数据，推测其平均温度大约在0摄氏度到40摄氏度之间！”

Professor Li took a deep breath and his face was full of surprise.

0 to 40 degrees Celsius means water can remain liquid!
As long as there is water, there is the possibility of life!
This Gillies 581c may be the second Earth!
If this really is a second Earth, it would be an epic discovery in astronomy!
(End of this chapter)