Would it be possible, in a different solar system, there could be two inhabited planets?

Question

If the star (sun) that solar system surrounded were bigger perhaps and there were many more smaller planets, could there be two life inhabited planets there? What are the chances?

Answer 1

It all depends on the star in question, and the features of that stellar system.

If you're looking at the actual semantics of the situation, there are no other solar systems, since "solar" is an adjective that refers to the star Sol, which is our own sun. But anyway, that's splitting hairs.

If we were to look at a planetary system, centered on a star on the main sequence, a star similar to our own in radiation output, but perhaps surrounded by more planets, or even a roughly equal number of planets, it's quite possible that more than one body orbiting that star could support some form of life. It's also likely that the moons of such hypothetical planets could also support life, especially if they share qualities with such natural satellites as Europa, Titan, or any of the icy moons surrounding the gas giant planets. Though they're too far from the parent star to receive much light, and thus, warmth, they would be close enough to their parent planets, to heat up due to gravitational flexing (as is the case with Jupiter's moon Io) which would contribute to a form of vulcanism. If various organic compounds as well as heat are spewed out, it's feasable that some form of life could potentially evolve.

Of course, if there are other stars out there, similar to our own sun, orbited by rocky, water rich planets, then yes, life as we know it could potentially exist--at least in simple forms similar to bacteria, or even fungi or something. It's also likely as well, that we could be the victims of our own perception, and we're only looking at the possibility of life like ourselves. If this is the case, then there is a possibility that what we call "life" could exist in a way that we wouldn't even recognize. I'm not necessarily talking about a Star Trek style crystalline life form, but since our knowledge of this universe is still extremely limited, our knowledge of "what life might actually be" is also limited.

The chances, however, are pretty high, but I don't have an exact number. But to quote the character from the novel (and movie) "Contact." With all of those stars out there, and all of the planets circling them, it would be terrible if we were the only ones, after all, it would be a terrible waste of space.

Answer 2

The answer is NO.

The reason is, there is no other SOLAR system. The star system we are in is called the SOLAR system because the name of our sun is "SOL". There is no other star out there named "Sol" that we are aware of. (Therefore, no other "Solar" system.)

As for STAR systems, there is a very good possibility of inhabition of life. It might be moss, it might be fish, it might be something more. Having 2 planets sharing a close orbit to each other with a smaller star could yield the same results as 2 planets of varied orbits of a larger star.

So as for LIFE...anything is possible.
As for Solar System, I don't think so.

Answer 3

To support life a planet has to be just the right distance away from it's sun. Too much or too little heat and life cannot survive. So to have two inhabited planets they'd both need to be just the right distance, so they'd have to have pretty much the same orbit, and there'd be a chance of them colliding eventually.

Also the odds of any planet supporting life is stupidly low; so having two planets at just the right distance, on a planet with the capability to support life, without them ever colliding, and them actually having life is statistically impossible.

Answer 4

For all we know our solar system could have two inhabited planets, remember for all our so called knowledge we have only ever set foot on the moon. If you mean intelligent life then yes but during the same time period well thats the next question.

Answer 5

There could be any number of inhabited planets in any given solar system. Life is possible in a narrow window of conditions, but there's no reason to believe that it would be unique to just one planet in a system.

Answer 6

Yes if the planets are more are less in the same place. to get the right amount of light and heat. and there was enough ice (water) to create the ingredient for life. And the planets where capable of producing there own heat. (hot core) then no problem. They have to be in the right place from the sun, not to hot and not to cold.The chances of life on other planets, are like tossing a coin, keep tossing the coin onto a table and eventually the coin will land on its side.
Millions of stars (suns) millions of planets, it has to happen....It happened here!!!

Answer 7

It could happen in our solar system if two planets were the same distance or so from the sun, that would enable them both to sustain life as we know it. But they'd have to rotate around the sun at about the same speed... or one would bump into the other..

Answer 8

We would only be egomaniacs if we were to claim our planet is the only one inhibited ... There must be a solar system where there are more than one inhibited planet. We must be incredibly fortunate ( or incredibly unfortunate ) to be the only inhibited planet in our s.system. But we haven't fully explored all the planets so ... ( and there is some word about scientists finding bacteria life on Mars if you count that )

Answer 9

Did you know that complex molecules of carbon like amino acid in asteroids and nebula? These molecules have been reported to be like DNA or RNA (the basic material that is seen in all life form on earth).
It is therefore probable that life may exist in other planetary systems. There are no conditions that actually make the existence of life on one planet exclusive in a system. Therefore life may well exist in one or many planets within the same planetary system

Answer 10

There could be two inhabited planets in our solar system, when man moves to Mars.