(ORDO NEWS) — Some exoplanets are always turned to their star with only one side – about the same as our Moon in relation to the Earth.
American astronomers believe that the light division lines on these planets can still be inhabited. About 70 percent of the stars in the night sky are so-called M-dwarfs , on average, dimmer than our Sun.
There are planets around many of these stars, and those of them that get enough heat, occupying an orbit extremely close to the star, may well have liquid water “on board”. However, this arrangement is not safe, as it can lead to tidal capture.
In this case, three zones are formed on the surface of the planet: illuminated, shadow and terminator.
On the illuminated side, constantly facing the star, it will be too hot for life to exist, on the shady side, immersed in eternal night, it will be too cold.
So the only zone suitable for life remains a narrow strip of the light divide, where liquid water can remain.
Scientists from the University of California at Irvine (USA) simulated the climate on such a planet using software commonly used to model the Earth’s climate, but with some adjustments.
The study showed that the terminator zone can indeed support conditions suitable for the development of complex life forms, albeit within a rather narrow zone of perpetual twilight.
It is curious that in this case, in order for the planet to be habitable, a large amount of surface water will be more likely to harm than to benefit: for example, in the case of an ocean planet, tidal capture will cause water to evaporate on the illuminated side, and this eventually cover the planet in a thick layer of steam.
On the contrary, if both water and land are present on the surface of the planet, this will allow the existence of a stable climatic zone of the terminator, and hence life.
The results of the study not only expand the list of potentially habitable planets, but also suggest making adjustments to the patterns of searches for traces of the presence of life.
After all, biosignatures created by living beings can only be present in certain parts of the planet’s atmosphere.
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