- #1
Gold Barz
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AKA solar systems rare?
In summary, a planet is a celestial body that orbits around a star, has its own gravity, and has cleared its orbit of other objects. Planets around stars are detected using methods such as transit, radial velocity, and direct imaging. The most common types of planets found are gas giants and rocky planets, but there are also ice giants and super-Earths. The habitable zone is the region where a planet can have liquid water on its surface, and there have been over 4,500 confirmed exoplanets discovered around stars, with the possibility of billions more in our galaxy alone.
- #2
chroot
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No. It seems that most stars have at least some sort of planetary debris around them. Currently, our detection methods are only sensitive enough to detect the rather extreme kinds of planetary systems (such as Jupiter-mass stars orbiting a half an AU from the star), but it's likely that Earth-like planets are not all that rare.
- Warren
- Warren
- #3
Math Is Hard
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Since there's only one star called Sol, yes!Gold Barz said:
- #4
chroot
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MIH wins today's Pedant Award!
- Warren
- Warren
- #5
Gold Barz
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Not rare?, that is good news for me.
1. What is the definition of a planet?
A planet is a celestial body that orbits around a star, is large enough to have its own gravity, and has cleared its orbit of other objects.
2. How do we detect planets around stars?
There are a few methods for detecting planets around stars, including the transit method, radial velocity method, and direct imaging. The transit method involves observing a decrease in a star's brightness as a planet passes in front of it. The radial velocity method measures slight changes in a star's motion caused by the gravitational pull of a planet. Direct imaging involves capturing an actual image of the planet.
3. What types of planets are typically found around stars?
The most common types of planets found around stars are gas giants, like Jupiter and Saturn, and rocky planets, like Earth and Mars. However, there are also other types such as ice giants and super-Earths.
4. What is the habitable zone around a star?
The habitable zone, also known as the Goldilocks zone, is the region around a star where a planet can have liquid water on its surface. This zone depends on the size and temperature of the star, and is the most likely place for life to exist on a planet.
5. How many planets have been discovered around stars?
As of January 2022, there have been over 4,500 confirmed exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) discovered around stars. However, it is estimated that there could be billions of planets in our own Milky Way galaxy alone.
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