Wet planets common (new simulation study by Raymond et al)

[marcus]

current issue of SCIENCE

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/313/5792/1413

Exotic Earths: Forming Habitable Worlds with Giant Planet Migration
Sean N. Raymond, Avi M. Mandell, Steinn Sigurdsson

"Close-in giant planets (e.g., "hot Jupiters") are thought to form far from their host stars and migrate inward, through the terrestrial planet zone, via torques with a massive gaseous disk. Here we simulate terrestrial planet growth during and after giant planet migration. Several-Earth-mass planets also form interior to the migrating jovian planet, analogous to recently discovered "hot Earths." Very-water-rich, Earth-mass planets form from surviving material outside the giant planet's orbit, often in the habitable zone and with low orbital eccentricities. More than a third of the known systems of giant planets may harbor Earth-like planets"

 

[AndyW]

Thank you for bringing this interesting article to our attention. As a scientist in the field of planetary science, I am familiar with the concept of giant planet migration and its potential impact on the formation of habitable worlds. The study you have referenced provides valuable insights into this process and its potential implications for the existence of Earth-like planets in other systems.

The idea of hot Jupiters migrating through the terrestrial planet zone is one that has been proposed and studied for many years. This simulation study by Raymond et al. adds to our understanding of this phenomenon by specifically focusing on the formation of terrestrial planets during and after the migration process. Their results show that not only can hot Earths form interior to the migrating giant planet, but also that water-rich Earth-mass planets can form in the habitable zone. This is a significant finding as it suggests that the presence of a hot Jupiter in a system does not necessarily preclude the existence of habitable worlds in that system.

Furthermore, the study suggests that more than a third of known systems with giant planets may also have Earth-like planets, adding to the growing evidence that Earth-sized worlds may be common in our galaxy. This has implications for the search for life beyond our solar system, as Earth-like planets are considered to be the most promising candidates for hosting life.

Overall, this study highlights the complex and dynamic nature of planet formation and the potential for diverse planetary systems to exist. It also emphasizes the importance of continued research and exploration in this field to better understand the origins and prevalence of habitable worlds. Thank you again for bringing this article to our attention, and I look forward to further discussions on this topic.