Talk:Habitable zone

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[edit] Need to State Earth's Current and Long Term Habitable Zone

Earth's current habitable zone (HZ) is 0.95 astronomical units (AU) to 1.37 AU. Earth's long term HZ is 0.95 to 1.15 AU.

Also suggest adding NASA graphic of earth's HZ: [1] Joema 14:36, 22 December 2005 (UTC)

Yes, I think merging Circumstellar Habitable Zones with Habitable Zones would be a good idea. Good idea to add current terrestrial habitable zone limits too. The NASA graphic already shows current CHZ based on the criteria discussed in the new addition. -- Dr. L.R. Doyle

[edit] Habitable to Whom?

"In astronomy a habitable zone (HZ) is a region of space where conditions are favorable for the creation of life."

Does this not depend on your definition of life? Who is to say that other forms of life could not exist in conditions that humans would consider extreme? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that the habitable zone is a region of space where conditions are favorable for the creation of human life, or earth-like life? --70.82.50.67 18:03, 15 June 2006 (UTC)

"and iodine for the the thyroid gland" Do extra-terrestrial organisms have thyroid glands? Can someone cite this?

Absolutely. We already know there is life existing on areas of Earth which would earlier have been be condiered outside the habitable zone for "life as we know it". In Evolving the Alien: The Science of Extraterrestrial Life, Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen make a convincing case that "Goldilocks zone" represents a dearth of imagination. Earth seems amazingly well suited to us because it's where we evolved. Daibhid C 23:21, 24 October 2006 (UTC)