Washingtonians Can Look To The Sky & Dream Of The 'Super-Earth'!

One good thing about the recent eclipse is it got people looking up at the sky again. Questioning the universe and pondering if we are truly alone.

Many have joked (myself included), 'Why are we looking for intelligent life in space when we can barely find it here on Earth?' But I'm sure one day we will!

That day may be sooner than expected as scientists have discovered what is being called the 'First Alien Super-Earth'!

Don't let the 'Super' send you down the wrong thought path. This isn't something out of the comics like Krypton, but it's still something stupendous!

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The newly discovered exoplanet called Kua'kua (aka LHS 3844b) is a first for scientists.

It is the first proof that planets outside our solar system can be 'tidally locked' to their main star (like the Sun for us) and have matching orbital and rotational periods.

Kua'kua is locked to its star, 'Batsu,' and does not rotate the same way as Earth. So, one side is always facing the light, and the other is always dark.

Tidal locking is a captivating concept, and this discovery of Kua'kua is the first time we've observed this phenomenon on a planet.

It's an exciting leap forward for our understanding of the universe. Up until now, this had only been a theory.

For more information on this discovery, check out WIONEWS.com.

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The International Space Station

Initially constructed in 1998, the International Space Station (ISS) is approximately 250 miles above the earth's surface, traveling at 17,500 mph. The ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes and completes around 15 orbits daily.

Gallery Credit: Ed Nice