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another night with the stars

Alien0n3arth

This time friends met in a countryside. 

But under the surface there might be places with liquid water and a room temperature around 20°C. We find microbes on earth in places, that would be uninhabitable for us.

They stayed longer enjoying their discussion...

Michelle asked, that maybe it's possible to find life somewhere closer to earth without having to travel 1240 light years with the 10% of speed of light. She asked, where is that system located.
Owl explained, that it's in the constellation Leo, as seen from earth. He also admitted, that the 1240 light years of traveling are not fully correct. 
It wasn't clear for Michelle, what he meant.
Owl explained her, that the distance between earth and k2-18b is 124 light years. So the trip with the 10% of speed of light would take 1240 years from our perspective- those who stay on earth. But from the traveller's perspective it would be shorter.
Michelle was shocked, asked how is it possible.
Owl continued- As the speed increases, the distance shrinks. As a result of calculation according to formula

L’=L√v2/c2, where v2 is the velocity of an object and c2 is the constant speed of light. The distance shrinks from 124 light years to 111,6 light years fron the perspective of the flying spaceship. As the ship is supposed to fly at 10% of the speed of light, the astronauts should spend there not 1240 years, but 1116 years instead. It's enough time for humans to get into another conflict and destroy themselves anyway. It's very much possible that there would be no connection and we would never, as humanity, know if these astronauts safely landed anywhere or not. Or got lost, fell into a black hole or had a collision with some object in space.

Michelle: How would they get lost if they have a map of the galaxy?
Owl: it's very easy to get lost in space. You don't have any up or down, any north, south, east, west. Additionally, the map of the stars, that you posses is a map as seen from earth. It's a 2 dimensional map of 3 dimensional space. These constellations look completely different from other star systems. In addition in space nothing stays the same, the space changes all the time.
Michelle: That's terrifying!
Owl: well, until we create a full 3D map of the milky way galaxy- it is. But I don't think humans would ever leave our star system. Soon we may get stuck completely on our planet.
Michelle: why is that?
Owl: Space trash. Our civilisation produces and launches it into space. Soon leaving earth may be too risky to try. Our space craft may have a collision with space trash drifting on our orbit. 
Michelle: So we will never really know,  what's out there?
Owl: sadly, no. Not in this lifetime. But I often have dreams, where I can see other worlds.
Michelle: I would like to join your dreams.
Owl: you are welcome to my world and dreams.
Michelle: looks like we discussed the whole party. Guests are going back home.
Owl: The best party is discussing space with you. I don't need anything else.
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