Astronomy - any star lovers out there? Message Board

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Pastimes : Astronomy - any star lovers out there?

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From: TimF	3/23/2005 12:07:28 AM
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A response to Message 21159735 Conversaton began with Message 21144444 -------------- Number of stars in a galaxy 1.E+10 (ten billion) Probably off by a factor of 10. More like 100 billion. Number of galaxies in the universe 1.E+10 (ten billion) Estimates range up to 20 times higher than that or more. Probability that a star is the goldilocks distance from the galactic center 0.000001 (one in a million = 10,000 stars per galaxy) This could be low but I have no real data about it. And of course that assumes that any such goldilocks distance is needed. Which I'm not sure is a safe assumption. Probability that a planet is in the goldilocks orbit 0.01 (One in a hundred) This also seems low to me but then again its not like we have a good sample to work with. Probability that a planet has an iron core for a magnetic field to deflect harmful radiation 0.01 (one in a hundred) I think this is low. Also even without the strong magnetic fields I don't think its a forgone conclusion that life couldn't survive. Probability that a planet has plate tektonics to recycle and mix constuents for life 0.1 (One in ten) I have some doubt about whether plate tektonics are really needed. Probability that a planet has a moon of the correct size to stabiliize earth's axis and rotation 0.1 Again I'm not sure its needed. Probability that large gas planets are available to intercept comets 0.1 (one in ten) I think gas giants are likely more common than that, and while I'm not 100% convinced that this is a necisary factor even if it is a useful one. Probability that a planet has a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere 0.1 (one in ten) I doubt that all life in the universe is like ours or is reliant on a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere. In fact the free oxygen in our atmosphere was produced by life. Life existed on the earth before there was a large level of free oxygen in the atmosphere. Tim

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