2007-05-01 10:07:48 · 11 answers · asked by M 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because the vast majority of the stars are so far away, that the amount of radiation absorbed is too small to make a difference. The closest star is going to dominate.
This is based on the scientific principle of the inverse-square law -- the intensity of radiation given off by a body is proportional to 1/(square of the distance from the emitter to the target).
A star 1 light-year away from a planet will have an energy density of x on the planet. A star 2 light years away will donate x/4 amount of energy. A star 3 light years away will donate x/9 amount of energy. And so forth and so on.
The earth is only 9 light-MINUTES away from Sol, our star. When you consider that the next closest star is 4.5 light-YEARS away, you can see that the amount of energy from that further star is trivial.
2007-05-01 10:11:30 · answer #1 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a planet has an atmosphere, it will help keep a narrow temperature range by spreading the heat around through convection. Planets (and moons) that do not have atmospheres will experience huge differences in temperature. For example, the moon can be 100 degrees C on the side facing the sun, but -150 degrees C on the other side.
2007-05-01 10:13:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Earth, like all planets, is highly affected by stars, per se. Stars are very, very hot. However, the Sun is the only star in our solar system, and the other stars in the universe (the closest being Proxima Centauri at 4.22 light years away) are simply too far away to make an impact on temperature.
2007-05-01 10:15:07 · answer #3 · answered by Morgan U 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most stars in space (in fact, all but one, our sun) are so far away, that the effects of their heat by the time they reach earth are negligible.
Our planet maintains a stable temperature, in part, because it has an atmosphere that helps regulate the rate at which heat is absorbed and radiated.
2007-05-01 10:12:53 · answer #4 · answered by Tim M 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey, check this out...
The Sun is 93,000,000 Miles away from Earth.
The next closest star is 4 Light Years away.
So the effect of other stars on Earth's atmosphere/planet heating is quite miniscule, if even detectable.
2007-05-01 10:19:11 · answer #5 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although the stars are very hot, the heat transfer by radiation is based on the "area" that the star exhibits at another body. This area is extremely small compared to the entire sky, so the heat transferred is also small.
2007-05-01 10:13:07 · answer #6 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have only one nearby star (the Sun) and it's 93 million miles away. The most stabilizing influence on the temperature here on Earth is our atmosphere.
While our sun is 8 light minutes away the other stars are light years away. While we can enjoy their light in the sky they have no influence on Earth's climate.
2007-05-01 10:18:34 · answer #7 · answered by Richard F 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because heat is a type of radiation. The heat from those many stars passes by other objects that obsorb it. Not to mention heat can't travel through a vacuum for trillions of miles.
2007-05-01 10:23:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even our own local star, Sol, is distant. Sol is the only star in our solar system and many others are far distances away. Not even close. So the heat wouldnt reach us at all.
~Kim on Jazzys acc
2007-05-01 10:39:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
by being lucky enough to be in the inhabitable zone. Odds of that happening are 1 in 10,000.
2007-05-01 11:36:38 · answer #10 · answered by paulbritmolly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋