I dunno, I looked at the various propectuses, and all of those stars look a wee bit hot for my tastes. I'd rather a planet than a star any day.
Oops...
With current technology - I dunno... let's say ion propulsion - how long would it take to do a fly-by of another star system? Basically, just send a probe to take lots of data, then zip around it and coast back to earth? (Or not even come back, just send signals back...)
The Universe is vast. I am pretty sure there is life on other star systems. They likely will resemble life on Earth, not the freakish ones we see in movies.
Astronomer announces shortlist of stellar candidates for habitable worlds
EurekaAlert | 02/18/06 | Earl Lane
Posted on 02/18/2006 4:26:06 PM EST by KevinDavis
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1581281/posts
Looking for other Earths? Here’s a list
msnbc.com | 02/19/06 | Alan Boyle
Posted on 02/19/2006 3:10:25 PM EST by KevinDavis
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1581745/posts
Five Out of Five Researchers Agree: Earth's Solar System Special
SPACE.com | 31 March 2005 | Sara Goudarzi
Posted on 03/31/2005 7:27:51 PM EST by Heartlander
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1375038/posts
Typically, the most sought after characteristic of a planet is its habitability. A habitable planet has liquid water on its surface, explained Margaret Turnbull of the Carnegie Institute of Washington. Thus far, 90% of all detected alien planets have host stars that can flare and sterilize the surface of the planet. Furthermore, planets, which are that close to their host star, would be in a synchronous orbit. This means that only one side of the planet would face the host star and all potential water on that side would evaporate and go to its "dark" side.
Great news. Since Don Brownlee isn't far from here, what about satellite-driven tidal forces, tectonic volcanism, and gas giant vacuum cleaners?
/ Devil's Advocacy
;-)