Extraterrestrial Life/Requirements For Life
Below, the requirements are listed.
Star
[edit | edit source]For a star to be able to host habitable planets, it must:
- have a life span of at least one billion years.
- not be a flare star.
- not be too close to a cosmic explosion, such as a supernova
This section is unfinished.
Planet
[edit | edit source]For a planet to be habitable by life similar to that on Earth, it must:
- have a temperature that stays between -15°C, below which chemicals start reacting too slowly for life to occur and water freezes, and 115°C, above which protein and carbohydrate molecules, as well as genetic material, start to decompose and water evaporates.
- be at just the right distance from the star so it gets enough energy from the star.
- have continuous liquid water on its surface.
- enough mass for radioactive heating, which allows for geological activity.
- a thick atmosphere to protect the planet, stabilize its climate, and provide sufficient pressure to hold liquid water. However, it must not be so thick that it creates a greenhouse effect that makes the planet too hot.
- not be too close to massive planets which can divert asteroids towards or strongly perturb its orbit.
- have a massive planet well outside of its orbit that diverts dangerously large asteroids away from it.
This section is unfinished.