Double Star Disks [ V4046 Sgr ]

Astrobiology ^ | Tuesday, January 20, 2009 | Rochester Institute of Technology

[SunkenCiv]

Kastner used the 30-meter radiotelescope operated by the Institut de Radio Astronomie Millimetrique (IRAM) to study radio molecular spectra emitted from the vicinity of the two stars in a binary system called V4046 Sgr, which lies about 210 light-years away from our solar system. (V4046 Sgr is the 4046th brightest variable-brightness star in the constellation Sagittarius.) The scientists found "in large abundance" raw materials for planet formation around the nearby stars, including circumstellar carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, in the noxious molecular gas cloud. The young stars, approximately 10 million years old, are close in proximity to each other -- only 10 solar diameters apart -- and orbit each other once every 2.5 days.

[SunkenCiv]

Binary and multiple-star systems are about twice as abundant as single-star systems in our galaxy, and, in theory, other galaxies. In a typical binary system, two stars of roughly similar masses twirl around each other like pair-figure skaters. Observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveal that mature planetary systems are more frequent around binary stars than single stars like our sun. That means sunsets like the one portrayed in this artist's photo concept might be commonplace in the universe. [Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech]

[SunkenCiv]

System of three stars harbors newfound world
MSNBC.MSN.com | July 13, 2005 | By Michael Schirber
Posted on 07/15/2005 4:08:14 AM PDT by eagle11
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1443405/posts

[SunkenCiv]

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[cripplecreek]

Seems like it would be a screwy situation for a planet. Would the planet orbit one star or both?

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I don't see how life could form on planets in binary star systems.

Wouldn't the paths of the planets be so strange as to result in significant changes in temperature throughout the year?

[KoRn]

(Had to do it :p)

[17th Miss Regt]

That is quite something.

And now I must say it.

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE! IT'S BUSH"S FAULT!

[cripplecreek]

Long period hibernation maybe?

Certainly not life like anything we see on earth.

[muawiyah]

Heavy winter coats in the morning, bikinis at Noon. Seems possible (I'm speaking metaphorically of course).

However, Earth has a plentitude of micro-organisms living in solid rock deep in the crust. Those critters are oblivious to weather, climate, and everything else.

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[SunkenCiv]

I don't see how life could form on planets in binary star systems. Wouldn't the paths of the planets be so strange as to result in significant changes in temperature throughout the year?

The problem is worse than that. It's not likely that the planet formed in this binary system by the same model used for planetary formation here, and if there are a number of planets in this binary system, the problem gets even worse.

[SunkenCiv]

Both; these stars aren’t going to be binary indefinitely, they’re probably spiraling in to collision. :’) Probably be a nice show for Earth-based observers when it happens.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Dude, can you imagine the freekin’ global warming you’d have if, like, you know, you had binary suns? How cool would that be?

[reagan_fanatic]

Twice the globull warming.

Al Gore would have a stroke.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

There's probably an increased chance that whatever planets there are would either collide or at least interact gravitationally more often than ours do.

Also there is the chance of planets being slung shot out of their bi-solar systems completely or gobbled up by one of the suns.

It took life a long time to develop on earth. From the geological record it appears there were times of great change interspersed with long periods of relative stability.

Planets in a bi-solar system would most likely never experience any long periods of relative stability.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.