Obliquity Variability of Terrestrial Planets in the Habitable Zone

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (S345) ◽  
pp. 291-292
Author(s):  
Yutong Shan ◽  
Gongjie Li
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Spin Axis ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
Axial Tilt

AbstractObliquity (axial tilt) and its variability could play an important role in the climate and habitability of a planet. We explore the spin-axis dynamics of two specific habitable zone exoplanets, Kepler-62f and Kepler-186f, using numerical and analytical techniques. Based on our current understanding of their orbital architecture, we find that, in contrast with the typical conditions in the Solar System, Kepler-62f and 186f should have low obliquity variations except in fine-tuned conditions. Extra undetected planetary companions and/or the existence of a satellite could either stabilize or destabilize obliquities at a variety of values.

scholarly journals Extrasolar Planets and Prospects for Terrestrial Planets

2004 ◽  
Vol 213 ◽  
pp. 11-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey W. Marcy ◽  
R. Paul Butler ◽  
Steven S. Vogt ◽  
Debra A. Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Extrasolar Planets ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
System Architectures ◽  
Rocky Planets ◽  
Host Stars ◽  
Eccentricity Orbit

Examination of ∼2000 sun–like stars has revealed 97 planets (as of 2002 Nov), all residing within our Milky Way Galaxy and within ∼200 light years of our Solar System. They have masses between 0.1 and 10 times that of Jupiter, and orbital sizes of 0.05–5 AU. Thus planets occupy the entire detectable domain of mass and orbits. News & summaries about extrasolar planets are provided at: http://exoplanets.org. These planets were all discovered by the wobble of the host stars, induced gravitationally by the planets, causing a periodicity in the measured Doppler effect of the starlight. Earth–mass planets remain undetectable, but space–based missions such as Kepler, COROT and SIM may provide detections of terrestrial planets within the next decade.The number of planets increases with decreasing planet mass, indicating that nature makes more small planets than jupiter–mass planets. Extrapolation, though speculative, bodes well for an even larger number of earth–mass planets. These observations and the theory of planet formation suggests that single sun–like stars commonly harbor earth–sized rocky planets, as yet undetectable. The number of planets increases with increasing orbital distance from the host star, and most known planets reside in non–circular orbits. Many known planets reside in the habitable zone (albeit being gas giants) and most newly discovered planets orbit beyond 1 AU from their star. A population of Jupiter–like planets may reside at 5–10 AU from stars, not easily detectable at present. The sunlike star 55 Cancri harbors a planet of 4–10 Jupiter masses orbiting at 5.5 AU in a low eccentricity orbit, the first analog of our Jupiter, albeit with two large planets orbiting inward.To date, 10 multiple–planet systems have been discovered, with four revealing gravitational interactions between the planets in the form of resonances. GJ 876 has two planets with periods of 1 and 2 months. Other planetary systems are “hierarchical”, consisting of widely separated orbits. These two system architectures probably result from gravitational interactions among the planets and between the planets and the proto-planetary disk out of which they formed.

Exploring the Solar System

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel Schrijver
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Planetary Systems ◽  
Interplanetary Dust ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
The Moon ◽  
System P ◽  
Asteroids And Comets

In this chapter, the author summarizes the properties of the Solar System, and how these were uncovered. Over centuries, the arrangement and properties of the Solar System were determined. The distinctions between the terrestrial planets, the gas and ice giants, and their various moons are discussed. Whereas humans have walked only on the Moon, probes have visited all the planets and several moons, asteroids, and comets; samples have been returned to Earth only from our moon, a comet, and from interplanetary dust. For Earth and Moon, seismographs probed their interior, whereas for other planets insights come from spacecraft and meteorites. We learned that elements separated between planet cores and mantels because larger bodies in the Solar System were once liquid, and many still are. How water ended up where it is presents a complex puzzle. Will the characteristics of our Solar System hold true for planetary systems in general?

scholarly journals The interiors of Uranus and Neptune: current understanding and open questions

2020 ◽  
Vol 378 (2187) ◽  
pp. 20190474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravit Helled ◽  
Jonathan J. Fortney
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Internal Structure ◽  
Planetary Systems ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Interior Structure ◽  
Distinct Class ◽  
Open Questions

Uranus and Neptune form a distinct class of planets in our Solar System. Given this fact, and ubiquity of similar-mass planets in other planetary systems, it is essential to understand their interior structure and composition. However, there are more open questions regarding these planets than answers. In this review, we concentrate on the things we do not know about the interiors of Uranus and Neptune with a focus on why the planets may be different, rather than the same. We next summarize the knowledge about the planets’ internal structure and evolution. Finally, we identify the topics that should be investigated further on the theoretical front as well as required observations from space missions. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Future exploration of ice giant systems’.

scholarly journals Determining habitability: which exoEarths should we search for life?

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Horner ◽  
B.W. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Positive Result ◽  
Habitable Zone ◽  
Detailed Search ◽  
First Time

AbstractWithin the next few years, the first Earth-mass planets will be discovered around other stars. Some of those worlds will certainly lie within the classical ‘habitable zone’ of their parent stars, and we will quickly move from knowing of no exoEarths to knowing many. For the first time, we will be in a position to carry out a detailed search for the first evidence of life beyond our Solar System. However, such observations will be hugely taxing and time consuming to perform, and it is almost certain that far more potentially habitable worlds will be known than it is possible to study. It is therefore important to catalogue and consider the various effects that make a promising planet more or less suitable for the development of life. In this work, we review the various planetary, dynamical and stellar influences that could influence the habitability of exoEarths. The various influences must be taken in concert when we attempt to decide where to focus our first detailed search for life. While there is no guarantee that any given planet will be inhabited, it is vitally important to ensure that we focus our time and effort on those planets most likely to yield a positive result.

scholarly journals The Grand Tack model: a critical review

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (S310) ◽  
pp. 194-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean N. Raymond ◽  
Alessandro Morbidelli
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Protoplanetary Disk ◽  
Giant Planets ◽  
Asteroid Belt ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
Saturn’S Satellites ◽  
Internal Inconsistency ◽  
Solar System Bodies ◽  
Gas Accretion

AbstractThe “Grand Tack” model proposes that the inner Solar System was sculpted by the giant planets' orbital migration in the gaseous protoplanetary disk. Jupiter first migrated inward then Jupiter and Saturn migrated back outward together. If Jupiter's turnaround or “tack” point was at ~ 1.5 AU the inner disk of terrestrial building blocks would have been truncated at ~ 1 AU, naturally producing the terrestrial planets' masses and spacing. During the gas giants' migration the asteroid belt is severely depleted but repopulated by distinct planetesimal reservoirs that can be associated with the present-day S and C types. The giant planets' orbits are consistent with the later evolution of the outer Solar System.Here we confront common criticisms of the Grand Tack model. We show that some uncertainties remain regarding the Tack mechanism itself; the most critical unknown is the timing and rate of gas accretion onto Saturn and Jupiter. Current isotopic and compositional measurements of Solar System bodies – including the D/H ratios of Saturn's satellites – do not refute the model. We discuss how alternate models for the formation of the terrestrial planets each suffer from an internal inconsistency and/or place a strong and very specific requirement on the properties of the protoplanetary disk.We conclude that the Grand Tack model remains viable and consistent with our current understanding of planet formation. Nonetheless, we encourage additional tests of the Grand Tack as well as the construction of alternate models.

Late Accretion and the Origin of Water on Terrestrial Planets in the Solar System

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cédric Gillmann ◽  
Gregor Golabek ◽  
Sean Raymond ◽  
Paul Tackley ◽  
Maria Schonbachler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Long Term Evolution ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
Evolutionary Pathway ◽  
Giant Impact ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Term Evolution ◽  
Surface Liquid ◽  
Venus Atmosphere

<p>Terrestrial planets in the Solar system generally lack surface liquid water. Earth is at odd with this observation and with the idea of the giant Moon-forming impact that should have vaporized any pre-existing water, leaving behind a dry Earth. Given the evidence available, this means that either water was brought back later or the giant impact could not vaporize all the water.</p><p>We have looked at Venus for answers. Indeed, it is an example of an active planet that may have followed a radically different evolutionary pathway despite the similar mechanisms at work and probably comparable initial conditions. However, due to the lack of present-day plate tectonics, volatile recycling, and any surface liquid oceans, the evolution of Venus has likely been more straightforward than that of the Earth, making it easier to understand and model over its long term evolution.</p><p>Here, we investigate the long-term evolution of Venus using self-consistent numerical models of global thermochemical mantle convection coupled with both an atmospheric evolution model and a late accretion N-body delivery model. We test implications of wet and dry late accretion compositions, using present-day Venus atmosphere measurements. Atmospheric losses are only able to remove a limited amount of water over the history of the planet. We show that late accretion of wet material exceeds this sink. CO<sub>2</sub> and N<sub>2</sub> contributions serve as additional constraints.</p><p>Water-rich asteroids colliding with Venus and releasing their water as vapor cannot explain the composition of Venus atmosphere as we measure it today. It means that the asteroidal material that came to Venus, and thus to Earth, after the giant impact must have been dry (enstatite chondrites), therefore preventing the replenishment of the Earth in water. Because water can obviously be found on our planet today, it means that the water we are now enjoying on Earth has been there since its formation, likely buried deep in the Earth so it could survive the giant impact. This in turn suggests that suggests that planets likely formed with their near-full budget in water, and slowly lost it with time.</p>

scholarly journals Planetary populations according to the orbital angular momentum

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S265) ◽  
pp. 420-421
Author(s):  
João A. S. Amarante ◽  
Helio J. Rocha-Pinto
Keyword(s):  
Angular Momentum ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Orbital Angular Momentum ◽  
Momentum Distribution ◽  
Semimajor Axis ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
Planetary Mass ◽  
Exoplanetary Systems ◽  
Planetary Migration ◽  
Two Populations

AbstractWe investigate the angular momentum distribution of known exoplanetary systems, as a function of the planetary mass, orbital semimajor axis and metallicity of the host star. We find exoplanets seems to be classified according to at least two ‘populations’, with respect to their angular momentum properties. This classification is independent on the composition of the planet and seems to be valid for both jovian and neptunian planets, and probably can be extrapolated to the terrestrial planets of the Solar System. We analyse these ‘populations’ considering the phenomenon of planetary migration.

scholarly journals Oxygen isotopic heterogeneity in the early Solar System inherited from the protosolar molecular cloud

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (42) ◽  
pp. eaay2724
Author(s):  
Alexander N. Krot ◽  
Kazuhide Nagashima ◽  
James R. Lyons ◽  
Jeong-Eun Lee ◽  
Martin Bizzarro
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Molecular Cloud ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
Carbonaceous Chondrites ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Early Solar System ◽  
Isotopic Heterogeneity ◽  
Oxygen Isotopic ◽  
O 24

The Sun is 16O-enriched (Δ17O = −28.4 ± 3.6‰) relative to the terrestrial planets, asteroids, and chondrules (−7‰ < Δ17O < 3‰). Ca,Al-rich inclusions (CAIs), the oldest Solar System solids, approach the Sun’s Δ17O. Ultraviolet CO self-shielding resulting in formation of 16O-rich CO and 17,18O-enriched water is the currently favored mechanism invoked to explain the observed range of Δ17O. However, the location of CO self-shielding (molecular cloud or protoplanetary disk) remains unknown. Here we show that CAIs with predominantly low (26Al/27Al)0, <5 × 10−6, exhibit a large inter-CAI range of Δ17O, from −40‰ to −5‰. In contrast, CAIs with the canonical (26Al/27Al)0 of ~5 × 10−5 from unmetamorphosed carbonaceous chondrites have a limited range of Δ17O, −24 ± 2‰. Because CAIs with low (26Al/27Al)0 are thought to have predated the canonical CAIs and formed within first 10,000–20,000 years of the Solar System evolution, these observations suggest oxygen isotopic heterogeneity in the early solar system was inherited from the protosolar molecular cloud.

Boron Behavior During the Evolution of the Early Solar System: The First 180 Million Years

Elements ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles K. Shearer ◽  
Steven B. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Solar Nebula ◽  
Nuclear Reactions ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Planetary Formation ◽  
Light Elements ◽  
Early Solar System ◽  
Spallation Reactions ◽  
Magma Oceans

The behavior of boron during the early evolution of the Solar System provides the foundation for how boron reservoirs become established in terrestrial planets. The abundance of boron in the Sun is depleted relative to adjacent light elements, a result of thermal nuclear reactions that destroy boron atoms. Extant boron was primarily generated by spallation reactions. In the initial materials condensing from the solar nebula, boron was predominantly incorporated into plagioclase. Boron abundances in the terrestrial planets exhibit variability, as illustrated by B/Be. During planetary formation and differentiation, boron is redistributed by fluids at low temperature and during crystallization of magma oceans at high temperature.

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