The Uniqueness of Our Solar System
by BradfordWe are continually discovering and classifying planetary systems beyond our own solar system. These efforts can lead to the discovery of exotic formations. Solar systems like ours likely to be rarer than we thought contains this paragraph:
Astronomers, to their obvious delight, have discovered some 250 planetary systems beyond our own, many of them with curious properties. In particular, the discovery of several “hot Jupiters” gas giants that orbit close to their parent stars, challenges our theories of planet formation. The thinking is that gas giants can only form far away from stars because gas and dust simply gets blown away from the inner regions.
Data gathered from the study of other solar systems can influence theories as to how our solar system formed. Another quote:
But the data also has implications for us. A migrating gas giant sweeps away all in its path and that means that solar systems like ours are likely to be rare.
As Thommes and friends put it: “All of this leads us to predict that within the diverse ensemble of planetary systems, ones resembling our own are the exception rather than the rule.”
Paradigms change with time. The one advancing the belief that we inhabit a not very special solar system having an ordinary star is being challenged. How Special Is The Solar System? Let's see.
On the evidence to date, our solar system could be fundamentally different from the majority of planetary systems around stars because it formed in a different way. If that is the case, Earth-like planets will be very rare. After examining the properties of the 100 or so known extrasolar planetary systems and assessing two ways in which planets could form, Dr Martin Beer and Professor Andrew King of the University of Leicester, Dr Mario Livio of the Space Telescope Science Institute and Dr Jim Pringle of the University of Cambridge flag up the distinct possibility that our solar system is special in a paper to be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Intelligent Design has a cosmological component. If life arising is an unusual event in our universe, the formation of solar systems, with planets having earth-like conditions, might be rarer still.
August 26th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Oh no, this is terrible. Hold on a second while I plug this new data into the Drake Equation….
let's see, n = .01, carry the 2,…
Oh good! There's still aliens out there!
Comment by chunkdz — August 26, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
August 27th, 2008 at 7:23 am
I am always taken aback by visceral negative responses to anything that speaks of our local environment being special. If our solar system is rare, and especially if it is exceedingly rare, it is of enormous scientific interest to those researching planetary formation. Similarly, a confirmation that our solar system was ordinary would likewise be of great scientific value. That should be obvious. Yet because, if true, the specialness of our solar system would be co-opted for metaphysical considerations or brownie points, it is summarily dismissed by the likes of chunkdz. How unscientific. What can potentially be made of an observation in the non-scientific realm, either by theists or atheists, should have nothing to do with its value in science, but surprisingly great numbers of people cannot see that.
Oh, cue the puddle analogy.
Comment by David Heddle — August 27, 2008 @ 7:23 am
August 27th, 2008 at 8:22 am
David Heddle:
I agree that the nature of our solar system is of great scientific value. As for chunkdz, I suspect he was tweaking the noses of his opponents in a humorous fashion.
Comment by Bradford — August 27, 2008 @ 8:22 am
August 27th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Bradford,
I see, I misread chunkdz. I apologize.
Comment by David Heddle — August 27, 2008 @ 8:48 am
August 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
No need to apologize, David. My brand of sarcasm doesn't always play well on the internet.
Truth be told, I find the Drake equation to be an utterly silly attempt to dress up a metaphysical view as science.
Comment by chunkdz — August 27, 2008 @ 12:23 pm