Chapter 325: Proxima Centauri’s Super-Earth!
Chapter 325 – Proxima Centauri’s Super-Earth!
What appeared in front of everyone was three dazzling stars that blanketed the starry sky.
Although the image seen through the cabin’s transparent wall was only a “projection,” the event partic.i.p.ants could still feel the scorching heat coming from the three stars.
The first ones to react among the event partic.i.p.ants were the donation group’s astronauts. With swift movements, they set up their equipment and directed it at the three stars ahead. They then started working busily.
“As everyone can see.” Pointing at the closest of the three stars, Chen Yu explained, “The star nearest to us is the rumored Proxima Centauri. It is also known as Alpha Centauri C, and it is the third star in the Alpha Centauri system.
“Proxima Centauri is a red dwarf. Its diameter is only 1.5 times that of Jupiter, and its ma.s.s is one-eighth of the sun. Through its red color, we can infer that its surface temperature does not exceed 2,500 degrees. According to our astronomical research, such small stars should be the most numerous in the universe. They account for at least 70% of the universe’s stars.
“Meanwhile, because stars undergo nuclear fusion at a much slower rate as their size decreases, a red dwarf like Alpha Centauri C should still have a lifespan of hundreds of billions or even trillions of years, which is much longer than the age of the current universe. Therefore, even until this date, humans have yet to find a red dwarf that has entered its middle age.
“We are very close to the red dwarf now, roughly the distance between the sun and Mars. However, as its diameter is too small, it still looks smaller than even the two other stars behind it from our perspective.”
After saying so, Chen Yu pointed at the two stars “behind” the red dwarf. “Those two are the Alpha Centauri system’s rulers: Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B. The two stars are both ma.s.sive main-sequence stars, and their ma.s.s is 1.1 times and 0.907 times that of the sun, respectively. They form a stable binary star system, which rotates and entangles with each other. They also drag along the red dwarf while they’re moving.
“You can consider them to be a happy family of three.
“In the universe, due to the gravitational disorder caused by the three-body problem, it is difficult to have a star system to have three stars or more. Hence, the fact that the closest star system to Earth is a triple star system is an incredible coincidence. What’s even more incredible is that…”
Turning around, Chen Yu glanced at the interactive event partic.i.p.ants who were attracted by his narration. He then waved his hand, constructing a three-dimensional projection of the Alpha Centauri system. “In 2016, the European Southern Observatory discovered that there actually exists a planet within the red dwarf’s habitable zone.
“Furthermore, this planet is actually a super-Earth with roughly the same size and ma.s.s as Earth!”
[What?]
[Are there actually Trisolarans?]
[Master Liu is awesome!][1]
[Master Liu’s Three-Body Problem was published in 2006, but this super-Earth was discovered in 2016.]
[That’s why Master Liu is awesome!]
[…There’s nothing wrong with this logic.]
[Nothing wrong. +1]
[Hurry up and see if there are any Trisolarans!]
[If there really is an alien civilization there, wouldn’t we be getting ourselves killed by going there?]
[Fool. UP’s s.p.a.cecraft is equipped with G.o.dly equipment. Who do you think is going to be annihilated?]
[Lololol.]
[I’m suddenly excited! Hurry up and go!]
“Since we’ve come to the Alpha Centauri system, searching for life is naturally one of the tasks we have to do. We have already wasted a lot of time on the way here, so it wouldn’t matter even if we waste a little more. Now, let’s head straight for the super-Earth—Proxima Centauri b.”
After saying so, Chen Yu mentally issued some commands. Immediately, the stationary s.p.a.cecraft began moving once more.
“M-Mr. King, will we have a chance to get off the s.p.a.cecraft to collect rock samples?” One of NASA’s astronauts, who had been silent all this time, suddenly raised his hand and spoke in crude Chinese. “It shouldn’t take a lot of time.”
“Certainly,” Chen Yu said, nodding as he sent the astronaut a glance. He then looked at the other donation group members and said, “We have traveled across four light-years to get to this place. It will be a ma.s.sive waste if we leave after taking just a few photos. Hence, all event partic.i.p.ants with qualified s.p.a.cesuits can disembark onto the planet and conduct exploration and sample collection.
“As for those who can’t get off the s.p.a.cecraft, I will also find something on the planet and give it to you as a souvenir after disinfecting it.”
Upon hearing Chen Yu’s words, everyone reacted in shock and joy.
“Really?”
“UP, you’re awesome!”
“What a huge catch!”
“Long live the UP!”
[I’m a little jealous.]
[Back when my girlfriend called me to tell me she was cheating on me, I wasn’t even as jealous as I am now. c.r.a.p.]
[I’m dying from jealousy…]
[I dare say that aside from Mr. Ma, everyone else won’t get to hold their souvenirs for more than three days.]
[I doubt anybody will dare steal a souvenir given by the UP, right?]
[There’s nothing the UP can do if the partic.i.p.ants “donate” the souvenir to someone else.]
Raising his watch and looking at the torrent of bullet comments, Chen Yu laughed and said, “Usually, other product reviewers would randomly give their fans some of the products they reviewed. As the products I review are somewhat special, I cannot give them to anyone. So, let’s use this opportunity to give away some of Proxima Centauri b’s local specialties. I will choose 1,000 people from the bullet comments and send them the souvenirs via express delivery.”
[Daddy!]
[Daddy!]
[Daddy!]
[I’ll buy the souvenir at a high price from anyone who wins it.]
“I also have a complaint to make right now. The smart controls for this s.p.a.cecraft are terrible compared to its technological content. It is impossible to automate the entire flight process. While traveling in FTL mode, I have to constantly check the surrounding pulsars to avoid any deviations in the travel route. There are also many things I need to control during normal flight.”
Tapping his helmet, Chen Yu tried to relieve the slight pain in his brain and said, “I dare say that the s.p.a.cecraft’s degree of automation isn’t even a match for China’s high-speed railway system. Is it too much to ask for an artificial intelligence to be installed?”
There was a huge difference in speed between standard and FTL navigation. However, because Proxima Centauri was sufficiently close, even at the s.p.a.cecraft’s “slow” travel speed, it was still possible for everyone to notice the red dwarf’s movements and changes.
“It really is a small star.”
Leaning against the wall and looking at the red dwarf outside, Chen Yu said, “It’s not much bigger than Jupiter. If not for it releasing solar flares from time to time, how is it any different from a gaseous planet?
“However, it is also thanks to its small ma.s.s that the Alpha Centauri system can exist. Had it been a star similar to the sun’s size, the situation here would become a mess.
“Hmm… Everyone who wants to get off the s.p.a.cecraft, start preparing. Also, make sure not to stray too far away from me once you arrive on the surface. Shout for help immediately if you notice any anomalies. By the way, connect your communicators and wireless transmitters to my helmet. That way, I can determine your locations at any time.”
After speaking a few words to the astronauts, Chen Yu took out the High-frequency Lightsaber and explained to the camera, “We will be out of the s.p.a.cecraft’s protective layer once we exit the s.p.a.cecraft. To prevent any possible dangers, I will also disembark together with the astronauts.
“Let’s hope we can discover some aliens.”
Four minutes later, the s.p.a.cecraft arrived above the rusty red planet successfully…
If this planet really had intelligent life, then from their perspective, a group of bigshots was about to land on their world…