A Series of Exoplanets in Our Solar System

In summary, in this alternate universe, Earth is similar in size and distance from the sun as our own, but the similarities end there. The moon is smaller and farther away, while Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all larger and closer to their respective stars. Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus are identical to our own, but Neptune does not exist. The asteroid belt and Milankovitch cycles play important roles in the solar system's orbital mechanics. The Earth's nightscape and Milankovitch cycles will be affected by these changes, but it is difficult to accurately predict the length and intensity of ice age cycles on this Earth. A potential Super-Earth beyond the Kuiper Belt has been hypothesized, but this discovery is not
  • #1
JohnWDailey
34
1
In this alternate universe, Earth is the same as back home--8,000 miles wide, 25,000 around, six sextillion tons, orbiting a G-type main-sequence star from a distance of 93 million miles. But here, the similarities end.

MOON
DIAMETER--3,273 miles
MASS--0.025x that of Earth
DISTANCE FROM EARTH--475,000 miles

MERCURY (based on 55 Cancri e)
DIAMETER--2x that of Earth
MASS--8x that of Earth
DISTANCE FROM THE SUN--1.4 million miles

VENUS (based on Kepler-69c)
DIAMETER--1.75x that of Earth
MASS--5.5x that of Earth
DISTANCE FROM THE SUN--67.24 million miles

MARS (based on Gliese 1214 b)
DIAMETER--2.7x that of Earth
MASS--7x that of Earth
DISTANCE FROM THE SUN--141.6 million miles

Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus are identical in diameter, mass and distance from the sun to back home. Neptune, however, does not exist.

There are two important factors to consider that most scientists believe are connected to the orbital mechanics of our solar system.

The first and more obvious is the asteroid belt, leftovers of rock, ice and metal that survived the mighty pull of the gas giants.

There is a second, more complicated factor connected to the solar system — the Milankovitch cycles, named after Serbian geophysicist/astronomer Milutin Milankovitch. He proposed that the ice ages Earth had been experiencing for the past two-and-a-half million years were made possible by three basic factors:

  • Eccentricity (Orbital shape) — In an average ice age, the shape of the Earth’s orbit varied from 0.000055 to 0.0679 with the mean being 0.0019 over a cycle of 100,000 years.
  • Obliquity (Axial tilt) — In an average ice age, the earth’s axis varies from 22.1 degrees to 24.5 degrees over a period of 41,000 years.
  • Precession (Axis of rotation in relation to fixed stars) — Today’s North Star is Polaris, but won’t be the case forever — its supposed duration is 26,000 years.

Using the details provided above, what will Earth's nightscape look like? And how will these changes affect Earth's Milankovitch cycles?
 
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  • #2
I have news for you: they've (in real life) found a Super-Earth beyond the Kuiper Belt.
 
  • #3
RyderP said:
I have news for you: they've (in real life) found a Super-Earth beyond the Kuiper Belt.
That doesn't answer the question.
 
  • #4
JohnWDailey said:
And how will these changes affect Earth's Milankovitch cycles?

We don't even understand the ice age cycles of our Earth. The most important factor seems to be the 40 ky cycle of the axis tilt. A low tilt causes the polar caps to grow and high tilts let them melt. The 40 ky ice age cycles of the early Pleistocene can be explained with this single factor only. In the late Pleistocene there must have been at least one addional factor because several of the melting opportunities during the maximum tilt have been missed, resulting in 80 ky or 120 ky cycles (with an average of 100).

To estimate the length of an ice age cycle on your Earth you would need to calculate the duration of the wobbling of the Earth axis with the data od the modified Moon. Everything else (how strong the ice ages are, how many wobbling cycles they last or if there are ice ages at all) is your artistic licence.
 
  • #5
DrStupid said:
To estimate the length of an ice age cycle on your Earth you would need to calculate the duration of the wobbling of the Earth axis with the data od the modified Moon.
Meaning?
 
  • #6
RyderP said:
I have news for you: they've (in real life) found a Super-Earth beyond the Kuiper Belt.
Care to provide a link concerning this discovery of a new large planet in the solar system?
 
  • #7
JohnWDailey said:
Meaning?

I have no idea. I just know the result for Earth as we know it but I didn't found a corresponding calculation.
 
  • #8
rootone said:
Care to provide a link concerning this discovery of a new large planet in the solar system?
Look it up on YouTube under 7 top scientific discoveries.
 
  • #9
RyderP said:
Look it up on YouTube under 7 top scientific discoveries.

I'm curious if YouTube counts as ligitimate reference.
 
  • #10
YouTube is not a reputable source of scientific discoveries.
You can find accounts of UFO abductions, ghosts, and miracle cures for cancer on YouTube.
 
  • #11
RyderP said:
I have news for you: they've (in real life) found a Super-Earth beyond the Kuiper Belt.

No they haven't. They just have a good suspicion of where one might be. Also, due to "Clearing the neighborhood", we might never know if we can call it a planet or not.
 

FAQ: A Series of Exoplanets in Our Solar System

1. What are exoplanets?

Exoplanets are planets that exist outside of our solar system. They orbit around stars other than our Sun and are usually detected through changes in the star's brightness or gravitational pull.

2. How many exoplanets have been discovered in our solar system?

As of now, no exoplanets have been discovered in our solar system. However, scientists continue to search for potential exoplanets beyond Neptune in the outer reaches of our solar system.

3. Are there any exoplanets that could support life?

It is possible that some exoplanets could support life, but it is difficult to determine which ones without further exploration. Factors such as distance from their star, composition, and atmosphere all play a role in a planet's potential for life.

4. How do scientists detect exoplanets?

There are several methods used to detect exoplanets, including the transit method, radial velocity method, and direct imaging. These methods involve observing changes in a star's brightness, gravitational pull, or directly capturing an image of the exoplanet.

5. Why is the discovery of exoplanets important?

The discovery of exoplanets is important because it expands our understanding of the universe and the potential for other habitable worlds. It also allows us to study the diversity of planetary systems and learn more about our own solar system's formation and evolution.

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