Freethought & Rationalism Archive

theyeti · 01-05-2003, 05:13 PM

Quote:

One in four of the planetary systems identified to date outside the Solar System are capable of harbouring other Earths, say astrophysicists, a much higher proportion than anyone expected.

theyeti

01-05-2003, 08:44 PM

Most planetary scientists have based their theories on relatively conservative numbers, while allowing for substantial statistical perturbations either way.
Most of my understanding of the likelihood of finding Earth-type bodies depends on, as real estate agents love to say, "location, location, location.".
But most agree that a Jovian body in the outer system in necessary to act as a gravitational shield to the inner planets; sweeping up most of the dangerous asteroidal and cometary bodies that might incessantly bombard the inner planets.
Also, while obviously Jovian planets cannot themselves support our kind of life, they might have sizeable moons which might have the apppropriate atmosphere.
I think that as our telescope technology continues to improve, we will start finding more and more evidence to back up the claims of those who have conjectured that planetary bodies are indeed fairly common in most solar systems.

Another · 01-06-2003, 02:11 AM

The operative word is "may".

The techniques are biased to finding massive planets with short periods. What we have found at present are basically giant jupiters or "cold brown dwarfs".

They may have moons, there may be smaller planets there also but our methods cannot pick them up.

I believe that to be the case - but it is only belief.

01-06-2003, 09:58 AM

Ah, belief. Careful how you bandy that word around. Let's say that planetary science has predicted certain things, and so far, what we are observing seems to be falling into line with those theories.
Until we can further upgrade Hubble, or come up with another, better orbital optical telescope, we are going to have to go on secondary clues, like gravitational wobble.

joedirt490 · 01-06-2003, 01:49 PM

The last I read, astronomers had discovered some 70-80 planets around near solar systems. Most were many times the size of jupiter but none were seen because of the immense distance. They are proven to be there due to gravitational 'tugs' on their stars. Can you amigine how many earth size planets/moons HAVE to be out there in the entire universe? And to be so vain to think we are the only life forms-lol.

-JD

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01-05-2003, 08:44 PM	#2
shifterknob Guest Posts: n/a	Most planetary scientists have based their theories on relatively conservative numbers, while allowing for substantial statistical perturbations either way. Most of my understanding of the likelihood of finding Earth-type bodies depends on, as real estate agents love to say, "location, location, location.". But most agree that a Jovian body in the outer system in necessary to act as a gravitational shield to the inner planets; sweeping up most of the dangerous asteroidal and cometary bodies that might incessantly bombard the inner planets. Also, while obviously Jovian planets cannot themselves support our kind of life, they might have sizeable moons which might have the apppropriate atmosphere. I think that as our telescope technology continues to improve, we will start finding more and more evidence to back up the claims of those who have conjectured that planetary bodies are indeed fairly common in most solar systems.

01-06-2003, 02:11 AM	#3
Another Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: sicily Posts: 19	The operative word is "may". The techniques are biased to finding massive planets with short periods. What we have found at present are basically giant jupiters or "cold brown dwarfs". They may have moons, there may be smaller planets there also but our methods cannot pick them up. I believe that to be the case - but it is only belief.

01-06-2003, 09:58 AM	#4
shifterknob Guest Posts: n/a	Ah, belief. Careful how you bandy that word around. Let's say that planetary science has predicted certain things, and so far, what we are observing seems to be falling into line with those theories. Until we can further upgrade Hubble, or come up with another, better orbital optical telescope, we are going to have to go on secondary clues, like gravitational wobble.

01-06-2003, 01:49 PM	#5
joedirt490 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Waynesburg, Pa Posts: 5	The last I read, astronomers had discovered some 70-80 planets around near solar systems. Most were many times the size of jupiter but none were seen because of the immense distance. They are proven to be there due to gravitational 'tugs' on their stars. Can you amigine how many earth size planets/moons HAVE to be out there in the entire universe? And to be so vain to think we are the only life forms-lol. -JD

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