Table of Contents
Can two planets be in the habitable zone?
Our solar system has but one planet orbiting in what is commonly known as the habitable zone — at a distance from the host star where water could be liquid at times rather than always ice or gas. The answer to that question is no because a number of stars are known to have more than one habitable zone planet.
Can gas giants support life?
The primary composition of Gas Giants are Hydrogen and Helium. We know only of Life made of Carbon based compounds. With limited Carbon, Nitrogen and Oxygen, life can’t exist as we know it.
What is at the core of gas giants?
Gas giants may have a rocky or metallic core—in fact, such a core is thought to be required for a gas giant to form—but the majority of its mass is in the form of the gases hydrogen and helium, with traces of water, methane, ammonia, and other hydrogen compounds.
Can humans live on a gas giant?
The gas giant does not necessarily need to be within the habitable zone and may cradle the outer limits of the circumstellar habitable zone, or be further out provided it can be demonstrated that the orbiting moon could feasibly support human life unassisted by technology. i.e. Robin Crusoe could become stranded on the moon, and survive.
How does a gas giant capture a moon?
The gas giant cradles the outer limits of the circumstellar habitable zone in such a way that the captured moon passes through the circumstellar habitable zone during each rotation. The size of the moon is large enough for tectonic activity, which may in turn, be aided by gravitational forces from its primary.
What makes a gas giant habitable?
Habitable moon of a gas giant: working out the sizes and distances. The moon is also dense enough, with an iron/nickel core, to produce a strong magnetosphere, which if further aided by tectonic activity. Tidal forces are affected by the gravitational pull of the primary, throughout the moons orbit.
How long does it take for a gas giant to orbit?
Both gas giant and the habitable moon must maintain a stable orbit. Simulations would suggest that to maintain a stable orbit to a gas giant, or a brown dwarf that orbits 1 AU from a sun-like star, would require a moon orbital period of less than 45–60 days.