Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Habitable Zones for Planets.

If I were to ask you for your definition of a solar system's "habitable zone", what would your answer be?  Quick, what comes to mind?  Let me know.

So what is the definition that astronomers use to describe it.  Well, it is simple.  It is the zone where planets orbit and can have liquid water on them, at least part of the time.  That weeds out a lot of planets but not as many if the definition was that they had to have liquid water on them.  No, they don't need to have water and they don't need to be inhabited.  They only need to be orbiting at a distance from their star (sun) that the climate is not too hot nor too cold to have liquid water.  Does this make sense to you?  I tried to describe it as best as I could.

So, if astronomers were searching for signs of life somewhere where our probes have not reached or may never reach, they could eliminate any of the planets that are not in the "habitable zone".  Of course, we must also assume that the life we are looking for is similar to what we are used to here on Earth.  Life could take other unusual forms and may not be carbon based as is all life here on Earth.  They may be silicon based, or some other chemical base.  Or they may be alive in some other way, a way we can not imagine.  I don't care what my readers are made of, I like each and every one of you and I want you all to have a great day, you hear?

10 comments:

  1. My first reaction to the habilitable zone is "Third rock from the sun"! Do you remember that TV show? I guess astronomers want to start with what is "habitable" to us, but I don't think we will find a civilization exactly like ours, at least for a very long time. With the unimaginable size of the universe, we can't say "Never"!

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    1. Yes, I remember that show. No, we can never say never. . . Oh Oh, I just did say never. . .

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  2. As a carbon-based lifeform, I'd prefer liquid water, a predominantly Oxygen based atmosphere, and a relatively temperate temperature ... say -20*C to 40*C. Pretty similar to the planet inhabitants call "Earth". Type M, fer sure.

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  3. As a carbon-based lifeform, I'd prefer liquid water, a predominantly Oxygen based atmosphere, and a relatively temperate temperature ... say -20*C to 40*C. Pretty similar to the planet inhabitants call "Earth". Type M, fer sure.

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    1. If I lived on a planet that was predominantly Oxygen based, I wouldn't have to use my oxygen generator at night when I sleep. Our atmosphere is mostly nitrogen and about 20 to 21 percent oxygen.

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  4. All I could think of was... would I have the 4 necessities of life to survive... air, water etc.... hadn't thought of it as a zone. Guess I'm at an age where I don't really give habitable stuff too much thought... figure if I've been around this long, it just doesn't matter much. ;-)

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    1. Yep, don't forget food. I wouldn't miss air and water that much but sure would not want to miss dinner. (grin)

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  5. I believe there is life somewhere out in the Universe. And it may not be life as we know it, but something totally different. I think I watch too many shows about Ancient Aliens.

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    1. I think it would be wrong to believe that we are the only intelligent life in the universe. So, I agree with you a hundred percent.

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  6. My life became devastated when my husband sent me packing, after 8 years that we have been together. I was lost and helpless after trying so many ways to make my husband take me back. One day at work, i was absent minded not knowing that my boss was calling me, so he sat and asked me what its was all about i told him and he smiled and said that it was not a problem. I never understand what he meant by it wasn't a problem getting my husband back, he said he used a spell to get his wife back when she left him for another man and now they are together till date and at first i was shocked hearing such thing from my boss. He gave me an email address of the great spell caster who helped him get his wife back, i never believed this would work but i had no choice that to get in contact with the spell caster which i did, and he requested for my information and that of my husband to enable him cast the spell and i sent him the details, but after two days, my mom called me that my husband came pleading that he wants me back, i never believed it because it was just like a dream and i had to rush down to my mothers place and to my greatest surprise, my husband was kneeling before me pleading for forgiveness that he wants me and the kid back home, then i gave Happy a call regarding sudden change of my husband and he made it clear to me that my husband will love me till the end of the world, that he will never leave my sight. Now me and my husband is back together again and has started doing pleasant things he hasn't done before, he makes me happy and do what he is suppose to do as a man without nagging. Please if you need help of any kind, kindly contact Happy for help and you can reach him via email: happylovespell2@gmail.com

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