10個最有可能發現外星人的地方(下)
er-186f
5.開普勒-186f
Kepler-186f is an exoplanet orbiting the star Kepler-186 about 500 light-years from Earth. Discovered in 2014, it is the first Earth-size exoplanet found to be orbiting in its star's habitable zone.
開普勒-186f距離地球約500光年，是一顆圍繞開普勒-186運行的太陽系外行星。開普勒-186f於2014年被發現，是首顆在恆星的宜居帶內被發現的類地系外行星。Less than 10 percent greater than Earth's size, it is the closest "match" to our home planet. Any other similarities, like density, are unknown. But the presumably rocky composition can be hypothesized simply based on the exoplanet's size.
它的體積比地球大10%不到，是和地球最“接近”的行星。而對於該行星的其他相似之處，如密度等，我們均一無所知。但我們可以根據它的大小判斷出這很有可能是一顆岩石行星。
Both its Earthlike size and its location in the habitable zone are what make Kepler-186f a more likely candidate to accommodate life. However, the presence of water has not been confirmed because of a lack of proper information, such as temperature.
體積與地球相差無幾、同樣位於宜居帶，這兩個條件使開普勒-186f成爲候選的宜居星球。然而，由於溫度等相關信息的缺乏，該星球上是否存在液態水尚未得到確認。As Earth is our only known host of life, the theory is that a place like Earth in other ways might also be home to some form of life as we know it.
地球是我們已知的唯一存在生命的星球，已知理論表明，與地球類似的行星可能存在某種生命。er-452b
4.開普勒-452b
According to NASA, Kepler-452b could be "one of the best (places) to find extraterrestrial life." This exoplanet, however, may prove to be difficult to explore. It's over 1,000 light-years away. Even so, scientists have confirmed that Kepler-452b is located in its star's habitable zone, along with several companion exoplanets.
據美國宇航局資料顯示，開普勒-452b可能是“最有機會找到外星生命的地方之一”。然而，這顆星球距地球超過1000光年，因此對這顆系外行星進行探索可能十分困難。即便如此，科學家也證實了開普勒-452b和幾顆系外伴星均位於其恆星的宜居帶。For a while, Kepler-452b was known for being the closest to Earth's size. That honor now goes to Kepler-186f. Still, Kepler-452b's star is much more Sunlike, which is certainly interesting. Furthermore, this exoplanet is one of science's most notable subjects, particularly in the eyes of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute, a leader in the exploration for extraterrestrial life.
有段時間，開普勒-452b以體積最接近地球而聞名，而現在，開普勒-186f獲此殊榮。而同樣有趣的是，開普勒-452b所環繞的恆星和太陽類似。此外，這顆系外行星是目前科學研究的熱點，在地外生命探索領域的領導者SETI（地外文明探索）機構看來尤其如此。1140b
1140b
This "super-Earth" is a recently discovered exoplanet that is in its star's habitable zone. LHS 1140b is considered by some scientists to be one of our best opportunities to find other life-forms.
這顆“超級地球”是最近發現的太陽系外行星，它位於其恆星的宜居帶內。有的科學家認爲LHS 1140b是最有可能找到其他生命形式的星球之一。A super-Earth is an exoplanet that is up to 10 times more massive than our Earth. It is often presumed that a super-Earth is rocky, although we can't be sure without other observations. LHS 1140b, the mother of all super-Earths, is also believed to be rocky with an iron core... and to possibly have aliens.
超級地球是指體積比地球大十倍的太陽系外行星。儘管我們無法通過其他觀察進行確認，但我們認爲這些超級地球主要由岩石構成。作爲所有超級地球之母，LHS 1140b也被認爲是一顆內核爲金屬的岩石行星，還有可能存在外星人。At only 40 light-years away, this exoplanet is in a good position for us to send a signal to intelligent life there, should it exist. In addition to LHS 1140b's proximity to Earth, the exoplanet's slower rotation speed makes LHS 1140b easier to observe.
如果有智慧生命存在，那麼距離地球僅僅40光年的LHS 1140b很適合我們向其發射交流信號。LHS 1140b除了位置靠近地球，它的自轉也較慢，我們對其進行觀察會更容易些。y's Star
2.虎斑星
Tabby's Star, or KIC 8462852, has received a lot of buzz for being the host of an "alien megastructure." Well, maybe.
虎斑星又名KIC 8462852，因該星球上可能存在“外星巨型建築”，很多人對它議論紛紛。At 1,500 light-years away from Earth, this star was discovered by Yale astronomer Tabetha Boyajian and noted for its peculiar behavior. Tabby's Star dims at such extreme rates over time that the dimming cannot be attributed to an eclipsing planet. Other explanations include an unidentified space object or the more fun explanation, aliens.
耶魯大學天文學家塔貝莎·博雅健發現了這顆距離地球1500光年的恆星，它以奇特而著稱。隨着時間的推移，虎斑星會突然變暗，這樣的亮度驟降不能歸結爲凌日現象造成。有解釋成是不明宇宙物體造成的，更有趣的說是由外星人造成的。An alien megastructure is basically a giant device that captures energy from a star and converts it into something more useful. When a star loses energy, it dims. So the idea of an alien megastructure makes sense, at least a little bit.
有一種假說認爲，這種外星建築其實是一臺巨型裝置，能捕捉恆星能量並能將其轉化爲更有用東西。當能量被裝置吸收時，恆星會變暗。所以外星巨型建築的假想是有一點道理的。However, the most recent and most likely theory about Tabby's Star is that it ate its own planet, which is certainly fascinating in its own right. Still, aliens have not been completely ruled out.
然而，最近提出的最可靠的理論是虎斑星吞噬了自己的行星，這個理論本身就是很吸引人的。不過也沒有完全排除外星人假想。mede
1.木衛三
Another one of Jupiter's moons might contain life. Like the other moons, Ganymede is thought to have an ocean beneath its crust. Surprisingly, this ocean could contain more water than Earth itself. In fact, investigation into Ganymede's surface shows that there may have been a flood once when liquid water escaped from beneath the surface through cracks or other openings.
木星的另一顆衛星也可能存在生命。和其他衛星一樣，木衛三被認爲在其地殼下存在海洋。令人驚訝的是，這片海洋的液態水含量超過地球。事實上，對木衛三地表的調查顯示，當液態水從地表下通過裂縫或其他出口噴出時，可能會形成洪水。The exploration of this moon even brought about new research methods. For example, by analyzing magnetic fields, scientists found that they can possibly deduce information about the interior of the object, including whether liquid water is present.
對這顆衛星的探索還帶來了新的研究方法。例如，通過分析磁場，科學家發現他們可以推斷出物體內部的信息，包括是否存在液態水。As of early 2017, there is no mission exploring Ganymede. But a probe called JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) is set to explore Jupiter's moons further in the next several years.
截止2017年初，還沒有探索木衛三的任務。但是，一個名稱爲JUICE（木星冰月探測器）的探測器將在未來幾年內進一步探索木星的衛星。
