Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to 10 things about planets

I'll give it a shot

What would our solar system look like to exoplanet hunters using the radial velocity method of detection? Would it be so “quiet” as to seem planet less? (assuming current technology, and sensitivity of instruments)

How many “quiet” solar systems with Sol type stars are in the stellar neighborhood? The Galaxy?

When rocky terrestrial type planets form in fairly even elliptical orbits, within the “Goldielocks” zone of such systems, how often are they completely water covered, as opposed to possessing continents and oceans?

What is the threshold for water world versus land and oceans?

Are planetary collisions like that which resulted in the Earth/Moon system, really that rare? (And where the heck did that big impactor go?)

Could such collisions turn water worlds into Earths? (Realizing they might also become Venus like)

Can I really come up with three more questions?

Are the amazing collection of properties that seem to make our Earth habitable for us and the life we know, (stable orbit in temperate zone, oceans and continents, plate tectonics, etc.,) really so incredibly rare?

In systems with Sol type Suns, would slightly smaller stars (Like Alpha Centauri B) and their closer temperate zones favor Earth like terrestrial planets, more so than those slightly larger than Sol? (Alpha Centauri A)

If Sol's temperate zone somehow expanded to center on Mars, or contracted to center on Venus, (Giving Venus enough time to cool down) would either planet really be habitable?

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