Recent research involving a study on planetary axis tilts brings hope for a habitable exoplanet’s existence. The Georgia Institute of Technology gathered its astrophysicists and shaped a theoretical twin of Earth, displayed into other star systems named binary systems. They used that specific system because it has two stars. Their results involve that from 87 % of exo-Earths, one might find in binary systems should possess axis tilts similarly constant to Earth’s. Such a fact is an essential element for climate balance that supports the evolution of advanced life. As the co-investigator, Gongjie Li explained: “Multiple-star systems are common, and about 50 % of stars have binary companion stars. Also, he stated that “this study can be applied to a large number of solar systems.”
As researchers continue their study, they further analyzed how the Earth’s axis tilt, known as obliquity. They concluded that it differs over time with the change of Mars’ axis tilt. While our planet’s simple obliquity differences have been right for a habitable climate, Mars’ axis tilt, however, might affect its atmosphere, damaging it. Billy Quarles, the study’s principal investigator, added: “We simulated what it would be like around other binaries with multiple variations of the star’ masses, orbital qualities, and so on.” What they did was to model Earth into livable surfaces, such as Alpha Centauri AB (one of our solar system’s closest neighbors), a binary system with one star named “A” and the other, “B.” Alpha Centauri A was displayed in good condition, but the vision for light axis dynamics on an exo-Earth shown around star B was damaged.
Moreover, no exoplanets have been established around A or B. Only an exoplanet has been indicated around the proximity of red dwarf star Proxima Centauri, but with small chances to be habitable. When the researchers increased the model to binary systems in the universe, the chance of slight obliquity differences expanded.
