- But then I noticed that while I was thinking that everything was false, it was absolutely necessary that I, who was thinking this, must exist. I realized that the statement I think, therefore I am was so certain and clear that no doubt, no matter how extreme, could undermine it. I concluded that I could accept this as the first principle of the philosophy I was seeking.
- Epsilon Eridani (stars.astro.illinois.edu)
Epsilon Eridani is the closest star known to have a planet: and maybe two of them. It is the only system that has both precise Doppler data and long-baseline astrometric positional observations, which combined yield the orbital tilt and the true planetary mass. Given its closeness and the knowledge of where it is relative to its star, the planet may become the first ever actually imaged.
- But immediately upon this I observed that, whilst I thus wished to think that all was false, it was absolutely necessary that I, who thus thought, should be somewhat; and as I observed that this truth, I think, hence I am, was so certain and of such evidence, that no ground of doubt, however extravagant, could be alleged by the Sceptics capable of shaking it, I concluded that I might, without scruple, accept it as the first principle of the Philosophy of which I was in search.