What type of life could appear on this world

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In summary, the planet Athena has a diameter of 0.50 Earths, a mass of 0.125, and a density of 5.52 g cm/3. It orbits at 1.10 au with an eccentricity of 0.08 and has an axial tilt of 20 degrees. Its rotation rate is 24 hours and it has a water/land ratio of 60/40 with an average ocean depth of 18,000 feet. The atmosphere consists of 0.30 bar of 67% nitrogen, 30% oxygen, 2% carbon dioxide, and 0.5% argon. The planet is 4 billion years old and has a temperature of 285 K.
  • #1
willstaruss22
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Star G2
Planets name Athena
Planets Diameter 0.50 Earths, Mass 0.125, Density 5.52 g cm/3
Planets orbit 1.10 au with an eccentricity of 0.08
Planets axil tilt 20 degrees
Planets rotation rate 24 hours
Planets water/land ratio 60/40 with an average ocean depth of 18,000 feet.
Planets atmosphere 0.30 bar of 67% nitrogen, 30% oxygen, 2% Carbon dioxide 0.5 argon
Planets age is 4 billion years
Planets temperature is 285 K
The core is molten still and the planet has a magnetic field and is currently geologically active with volcanoes erupting on a daily basis.

It has 1 moon with a radius compared with Athena is 0.25 with a density of 3.57 g cm/3
The moon orbits 200,000 km from Athena's surface with an eccentricity of 0.053

I am wondering what type of life could appear on such a small world with these parameters for a short book I am writing.
 
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Looks like a smaller version of earth. The lower surface gravity allows larger animals/plants.
I would not expect so much volcanic activity.
 
  • #3
As far as the volcanic activity I wanted the planet to have a hot dense highly radioactive core for the planets size. There are only about 250 active volcanoes on the planet that have erupted in the last 10,000 years and only dozen are constantly active with eruptions like Kilauea and Stromboli. The larger more moderate eruptions occur once every 1-3 months so that the atmosphere is replenished. This is still much less activity than Earth has. I realize that the planet is small but the frequent volcanic eruptions replenish the atmosphere with enough gases so it remains if that makes sense.
 
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1. What factors determine the type of life that can appear on a world?

The type of life that can appear on a world is determined by various factors such as the presence of water, availability of nutrients, presence of a stable atmosphere, and the distance from its star. The chemical composition of the planet also plays a crucial role in determining the type of life that can survive on it.

2. Is it possible for life to exist without water on a world?

While water is essential for most life forms on Earth, there is a possibility of life existing without water on other worlds. Some organisms on Earth, known as extremophiles, have adapted to survive in extreme environments without water. Therefore, it is possible for life to exist on a world without water, but it would be significantly different from life on Earth.

3. Can life exist on a world with extreme temperatures?

Yes, life can exist on a world with extreme temperatures. As mentioned before, extremophiles have adapted to survive in extreme environments on Earth, including extremely high or low temperatures. However, the type of life that can exist on a world with extreme temperatures would be limited and would require specific adaptations.

4. Could life exist on a world with a different atmosphere than Earth?

Yes, life can exist on a world with a different atmosphere than Earth. The composition of the atmosphere plays a significant role in determining the type of life that can survive on a world, but there are various possibilities. For example, some organisms on Earth can survive in environments with little to no oxygen, while others require oxygen to survive. Therefore, a different atmosphere could support different forms of life.

5. What type of life could potentially exist on a world with conditions similar to Earth?

If a world has conditions similar to Earth, such as a stable atmosphere, liquid water, and a similar chemical composition, it is possible for life forms similar to those on Earth to exist. These could include plants, animals, and microorganisms. However, there could also be unique forms of life that have adapted to the specific conditions of that world.

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