As I understand it, the Alpha Centauri system contains three stars, and we have no idea if there are any planets (correct me if I'm wrong, of course). Knowing that there are three stars, is there A) the possibility of an orbiting planet at all, B) Said planet has a climate even possibly supporting carbon-based life, and C) If not, are there other conceivable life-forms we've never seen (example: silicon-based life forms)?
2007-01-07 16:39:01 · 5 answers · asked by Yakka 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Epsilon reticuli is generally thought to be the most probable solar system outside our own that could contain life. Note in the drawing the orbit of one of that systems planets and compare it in the drawing again overlaid with our own earth's orbit if its star was our sun.
Oh, wait a minute. Further reading at that link says life is not probable there. Sorry. Okay, this second link is better. You will find a planet suitable for life there in that list.
Check out link #4 first. A) planets orbiting star, yes. B) possible very primitive carbon-based life. C) Not applicable.
2007-01-07 17:22:29 · answer #1 · answered by Professor Armitage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alpha centauri system has three stars going around each other. I would think it would be very difficult for any planet to have a stable orbit around all three stars (I'm not a physicist or astronomer or have much background in either, so please correct me if I'm totally off!). If there are plants somehow, it's possible for there to be climate, I suppose. And if that is the case, why not life? These are long lived stars, so there would be plenty of time for things to develop.
I never believed in silicon based life forms because carbon should be so much more common than silicon in the universe. So if its going to be one or the other, it should be carbon...
2007-01-07 16:51:20 · answer #2 · answered by Ms. K. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alpha Centauri's a good question, Unfortunately because the Alpha and Beta stars are relatively close together, probably there are not alot of chances for planets in stable orbits or life although, I could be wrong.
I'll add more later but they did find a companion to Proxima Centauri so there's that to hope for.
http://www.extrasolar.net/planettour.asp?PlanetID=67
2007-01-07 16:49:57 · answer #3 · answered by Mark T 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything is possible, and we are still so ignorant, we barely know anything about our own solar system, never mind a three sun system, and its possibilities.
In our close neighborhood most of our guesses were wrong. Figure things from there.
2007-01-07 16:43:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe but it might be hard to support life with three suns and the uneven gravitational tug of all of them.
2007-01-07 16:47:14 · answer #5 · answered by hkyboy96 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋