Writing: Input Wanted How would an Earth-like Planet fair with a Uranus like moon system?

[DiamondTiara]

Earth has one large natural satellite in reality. This is only talking about the context of a habitable, planet that has the conditions as Earth, with similar axial tilt.

It would have a moon system similar to that of Uranus. Let's say it has 6 moons, similar in size to Puck, Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon. These 6 moons would orbit in safe, stable orbits around the Earth-like planet. What would their apparent size, and realistic distance be from the Earth-like planet? What would be stable orbital distances, appearances, and likely effects on their parent planet's tides be? Would it be possible for such a moon system around an Earth mass planet to form under these conditions?

 

[.Scott]

The moon system of Uranus is not that stable. According to the wiki article, the inner moons perturb each other and collisions are likely within any 10-million year period.

It is most likely possible for an Earth-size planet to have 6 small moons with a distribution, size, inclinations, and distances similar to what Uranus has. Since Earth is a much smaller mass than Uranus, the orbital periods of these moons would be much longer than what they are around Uranus.

The arrangement of moons is often explained from how the planet was formed, how its star system was formed, and how much other stuff has been in the vicinity of its orbit during its history.

Tides are another issue. If any of these moons is large enough and close enough to created appreciable tides, they would tend to have a face to the Earth (as our moon does) and they would tend to interfere severely with the orbits of the other moons.

It might be an interesting story line if visitors to star system could demonstrate that one of the planet/moon systems that could not have happened by chance.