Formation of the Extrasolar System(s)

Formation of the Formation of the Extrasolar System(s)Extrasolar System(s)

M. M. MontgomeryM. M. MontgomeryUCF PhysicsUCF Physics

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Research FocusResearch FocusExtrasolar planets, or exoplanets, are planets NOT from our solar system. Using extrasolar Extrasolar planets, or exoplanets, are planets NOT from our solar system. Using extrasolar planet Excel data given on the CD ROM, findplanet Excel data given on the CD ROM, find the closest & furthest extrasolar planet to its starthe closest & furthest extrasolar planet to its star the least & most massive extrasolar planetthe least & most massive extrasolar planet The shortest and longest period extrasolar planetThe shortest and longest period extrasolar planet Plot Mass of planet (vertical axis) and Distance from its star in A.U. (horizontal axis), print your Plot Mass of planet (vertical axis) and Distance from its star in A.U. (horizontal axis), print your

graph, highlight the habitable zone with a highlighter (see graph, highlight the habitable zone with a highlighter (see www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST101/habzone.htmlwww.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST101/habzone.html for a similar graph) for a similar graph)

Using the latest knowledge on the ten most intriguing extrasolar planets from Space.com Using the latest knowledge on the ten most intriguing extrasolar planets from Space.com (see DATA Section below) and your results above, find the numbers of extrasolar planets (see DATA Section below) and your results above, find the numbers of extrasolar planets that fit into each new intriguing class of exoplanets. Draw conclusions whether these new that fit into each new intriguing class of exoplanets. Draw conclusions whether these new classes are rare or common. How many extrasolar planets fit in your Habitable Zone? What classes are rare or common. How many extrasolar planets fit in your Habitable Zone? What is your definition of life? Based on the data in the table (like mass) and your definition, do you is your definition of life? Based on the data in the table (like mass) and your definition, do you think we may be able to find life on these planets? If so, what kind of life and is this life think we may be able to find life on these planets? If so, what kind of life and is this life intelligent? Do you have enough data to draw solid conclusions? Repeat the project using intelligent? Do you have enough data to draw solid conclusions? Repeat the project using the latest data that can be found at exoplanet.eu. Draw new conclusions. Bonus: Review the latest data that can be found at exoplanet.eu. Draw new conclusions. Bonus: Review our current Solar Nebular Theory and establish whether our current theory needs to be our current Solar Nebular Theory and establish whether our current theory needs to be updated. If so, formulate new hypotheses based on your data and observations of NASA updated. If so, formulate new hypotheses based on your data and observations of NASA cartoons of these intriguing extrasolar planets.cartoons of these intriguing extrasolar planets.

http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST101/habzone.html

ContextContextBy studying extrasolar planetary data and By studying extrasolar planetary data and establishing the habitable zone and the numbers of establishing the habitable zone and the numbers of planets within the habitable zone, we engage planets within the habitable zone, we engage students in a multidisciplinary fashion. Physics students in a multidisciplinary fashion. Physics students can study Kepler’s/Newton’s laws, biology students can study Kepler’s/Newton’s laws, biology students can determine which planets may harbor students can determine which planets may harbor life, and chemistry students can study specific life, and chemistry students can study specific planets for atmospheres (hot Jupiters) and whether planets for atmospheres (hot Jupiters) and whether metabolic processes may be at work. If you think metabolic processes may be at work. If you think about it, we are actually repeating the words of about it, we are actually repeating the words of Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Aristarchus, Copernicus to Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Aristarchus, Copernicus to determine what exosolar planetary systems look like!determine what exosolar planetary systems look like!

MethodMethod Using data called Planets Orbiting Other Stars that has been given to us Using data called Planets Orbiting Other Stars that has been given to us

on the CD Rom under And_Beyond_Data/ExtraSolarPlanets, simple on the CD Rom under And_Beyond_Data/ExtraSolarPlanets, simple analysis of data and simple plots can be generated and much analysis of data and simple plots can be generated and much information gained. Note the warnings on the Educator Implications information gained. Note the warnings on the Educator Implications Page.Page.

Latest user-friendly data can be found at exoplanet.eu and the project Latest user-friendly data can be found at exoplanet.eu and the project should be repeated so students can see that conclusions will change should be repeated so students can see that conclusions will change with additional data. The advanced student could perform statistical with additional data. The advanced student could perform statistical analysis of the data, starting with simple box plots to see if any of the analysis of the data, starting with simple box plots to see if any of the data is unusual and deserves a future look. Other statistical analysis data is unusual and deserves a future look. Other statistical analysis could be used to compare, contrast, classify, evaluate, conclude, and could be used to compare, contrast, classify, evaluate, conclude, and revise current knowledge and understanding.revise current knowledge and understanding.

Data Data Summary Summary (Part 1)(Part 1)

For Example, I compared Planetary For Example, I compared Planetary Mass (in Jupiter masses) as a Mass (in Jupiter masses) as a function of Distance from its star (in function of Distance from its star (in A.U.) and foundA.U.) and found

Min Distance = 0.0177 A.U. (HD Min Distance = 0.0177 A.U. (HD 41004 Bb)41004 Bb)

Max Distance = 10.4 A.U. (HD Max Distance = 10.4 A.U. (HD 154345 b)154345 b)

Min. Mass = 0.0185 Jupiter mass Min. Mass = 0.0185 Jupiter mass (GJ 876 d)(GJ 876 d)

Max Mass = 22.7 Jupiter mass (HD Max Mass = 22.7 Jupiter mass (HD 147510 b)147510 b)

Min Period = 1.3283 d (HD 41004 Min Period = 1.3283 d (HD 41004 B b)B b)

Max Period = 13100 d (HD Max Period = 13100 d (HD 154345 b)154345 b)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Mass (M_J)

Distance (A.U.)

Data Summary (Part 2)Data Summary (Part 2)

Using our CD ROM data set, I found through a Using our CD ROM data set, I found through a quick analysis ….quick analysis ….

No USPPs No USPPs No planemos or free floatersNo planemos or free floaters Hot Jupiters are plenty Hot Jupiters are plenty

Future - Are they Fire/Ice Planets (I.e., tidally locked)?Future - Are they Fire/Ice Planets (I.e., tidally locked)? Far-away planets Far-away planets

Future - Do they have liquid water?Future - Do they have liquid water?

ConclusionConclusion Simple data analysis could suggest selective Simple data analysis could suggest selective

effects in data collection.effects in data collection. Simple data analysis could suggest that extra Simple data analysis could suggest that extra

solar system nebula theory may need revision (or solar system nebula theory may need revision (or creation!) but possibly the solar system theory creation!) but possibly the solar system theory does not need revisiondoes not need revision

No data is given on inclination of axis w/r/t ecliptic No data is given on inclination of axis w/r/t ecliptic plane, so conclusions can’t be drawnplane, so conclusions can’t be drawn

No data is given on dusty disks in these systems, No data is given on dusty disks in these systems, so conclusions can’t be drawnso conclusions can’t be drawn

ImplicationsImplicationsFuture work involves redoing the work with Future work involves redoing the work with

the latest data at exoplanet.eu.the latest data at exoplanet.eu.Future work could involve comparing Future work could involve comparing

planetary data with their dusty disks and planetary data with their dusty disks and thus ages as well on inclination angles to thus ages as well on inclination angles to determine formation (NASA grant?)determine formation (NASA grant?)



Educator ImplicationsEducator Implications Pre-service teachers are already engaged in teaching Pre-service teachers are already engaged in teaching

teachers of multiple disciplines. Students are used to teachers of multiple disciplines. Students are used to learning about multiple fields in a single year (e.g., learning about multiple fields in a single year (e.g., chemistry, physics, biology). Future jobs/careers (e.g., chemistry, physics, biology). Future jobs/careers (e.g., climatology, life in the Universe, astromedical) also seem climatology, life in the Universe, astromedical) also seem to be multi-disciplinary. We need to keep education to be multi-disciplinary. We need to keep education projects multidisciplinary to match trends in future projects multidisciplinary to match trends in future employment.employment.

Warning: Exoplanet data is highly selective based on our current Warning: Exoplanet data is highly selective based on our current technology used to acquire it (i.e., we find large planets as our technology used to acquire it (i.e., we find large planets as our technology is geared to find them!) and you should draw this conclusion technology is geared to find them!) and you should draw this conclusion when repeating the project twice with the newest data. Also, when when repeating the project twice with the newest data. Also, when attempting the project, you will need to retype the existing data as some attempting the project, you will need to retype the existing data as some of the numbers with decimals have parentheses around them, indicating of the numbers with decimals have parentheses around them, indicating errors, and you’ll need to remove these in your Excel spreadsheet.errors, and you’ll need to remove these in your Excel spreadsheet.

Data Data 2008/2009 10 Most Intriguing 2008/2009 10 Most Intriguing

Planets (from Space.com)Planets (from Space.com)

DATADATA

2008/9 Ten Most Intriguing 2008/9 Ten Most Intriguing Extrasolar PlanetsExtrasolar Planets

Hot JupitersHot Jupiters

The first planet discovered in The first planet discovered in orbit around a normal star orbit around a normal star other than our Sun is 51 other than our Sun is 51 Pegasi b. This planet is a Pegasi b. This planet is a Hot Jupiter as it orbits Hot Jupiter as it orbits eccentrically and, at its eccentrically and, at its closest distance, it is closer closest distance, it is closer to its star than Mercury is to to its star than Mercury is to the Sun. Are there any Hot the Sun. Are there any Hot Jupiters in your data?Jupiters in your data?



Alien Life?Alien Life?Epsilon Eridani b orbits an Epsilon Eridani b orbits an orange Sun-like star but this orange Sun-like star but this exoplanet orbits too far away exoplanet orbits too far away from its star to support liquid from its star to support liquid water and thus life as we water and thus life as we know it on Earth. This know it on Earth. This system is 10.5 ly from Earth. system is 10.5 ly from Earth. Being so close, we may soon Being so close, we may soon be able to photograph this be able to photograph this system to find the other stars system to find the other stars in this system that may in this system that may harbor life. Are any of your harbor life. Are any of your planets in the habitable planets in the habitable zone?zone?



Free Floaters/PlanemosFree Floaters/Planemos

Some exoplanets, called Some exoplanets, called planemos, are celestial planemos, are celestial objects that are similar to, but objects that are similar to, but smaller than, brown dwarfs smaller than, brown dwarfs (I.e., stars with not enough (I.e., stars with not enough mass to continue nuclear mass to continue nuclear fusion in their cores). fusion in their cores). However, these exoplanets However, these exoplanets have no Suns! That is, they have no Suns! That is, they float untethered in space. Are float untethered in space. Are any of your planets free any of your planets free floaters?floaters?



Ultra-Short-Period-PlanetsUltra-Short-Period-Planets

SWEEPS-10 orbits so SWEEPS-10 orbits so close to its parent star close to its parent star (~740,000 miles away) that (~740,000 miles away) that it orbits its star once every it orbits its star once every 10 Earth-hours! 10 Earth-hours! (Remember Earth takes 1 (Remember Earth takes 1 year to orbit the Sun, not year to orbit the Sun, not 10 hours!) This type of 10 hours!) This type of exoplanet is called ultra-exoplanet is called ultra-short-period planets short-period planets (USPPs). Are any of your (USPPs). Are any of your planets fast orbiters?planets fast orbiters?



Fire and IceFire and IceUpsilon Andromeda b is tidally Upsilon Andromeda b is tidally locked to its Sun like the Moon locked to its Sun like the Moon is to Earth (notice we always is to Earth (notice we always see the same face of the Moon see the same face of the Moon each night the Moon is up?), each night the Moon is up?), creating one of the largest creating one of the largest temperature differences ever temperature differences ever seen on an exoplanet. One seen on an exoplanet. One side of the planet is always as side of the planet is always as hot as lava whereas the other hot as lava whereas the other side is always a cold as side is always a cold as freezing. Are any of your freezing. Are any of your planets Fire and Ice Planets?planets Fire and Ice Planets?



Youngest ExoplanetYoungest Exoplanet

Less than 1 million years Less than 1 million years old, this exoplanet orbits old, this exoplanet orbits Coku Tau 4, a star 420 ly Coku Tau 4, a star 420 ly from Earth. An enormous from Earth. An enormous hole in the dusty disk that hole in the dusty disk that girdles the star suggests girdles the star suggests the presence of a planet. the presence of a planet. Does your data have an Does your data have an exoplanet as young as exoplanet as young as this one?this one?



Oldest PlanetOldest Planet

A primeval world, aged 12.7 A primeval world, aged 12.7 billion years, began 2 billion billion years, began 2 billion years after the Big Bang years after the Big Bang and 8 million years before and 8 million years before Earth. The planet orbits Earth. The planet orbits both a pulsar PSR B1620-both a pulsar PSR B1620-26 and its companion, a 26 and its companion, a white dwarf. These statistics white dwarf. These statistics suggest that life in the suggest that life in the Universe may have begun Universe may have begun earlier than previously earlier than previously thought. Does your data thought. Does your data indicate an old planet? indicate an old planet?



Shrinking planet?Shrinking planet?HD209458b orbits so HD209458b orbits so close to its star that its close to its star that its year is only 3.5 Earth-year is only 3.5 Earth-days long! This planet’s days long! This planet’s atmosphere is being atmosphere is being blown away by stellar blown away by stellar winds. The planet loses winds. The planet loses ~10,000 tons of material ~10,000 tons of material every second, shrinking every second, shrinking the planet. It may end as the planet. It may end as a dead core. Are any of a dead core. Are any of your planets shrinking?your planets shrinking?



Hot Juptier’s AtmosphereHot Juptier’s Atmosphere

This hot jupiter’s This hot jupiter’s atmosphere contains thick atmosphere contains thick clouds of silicates similar to clouds of silicates similar to grains of sand. Theory of grains of sand. Theory of Hot Jupiters expects water Hot Jupiters expects water and methane to be present. and methane to be present. However, no water vapor or However, no water vapor or methane is detected. The methane is detected. The water vapor may still be water vapor may still be hidden beneath the clouds hidden beneath the clouds though. Does your data though. Does your data indicated elements and thus indicated elements and thus the planets chemical make-the planets chemical make-up?up?



Smallest ExoplanetSmallest Exoplanet

Gliese 581c is the smallest Gliese 581c is the smallest detected to date and the detected to date and the first to lie within the first to lie within the habitable zone of its parent habitable zone of its parent star. Its surface may star. Its surface may sustain liquid water and sustain liquid water and possibly life as we know it possibly life as we know it on Earth. This exoplanet is on Earth. This exoplanet is 50% bigger and 5x more 50% bigger and 5x more massive than Earth. Is this massive than Earth. Is this planet listed in your data? planet listed in your data? Which planet in your data is Which planet in your data is the smallest?the smallest?



Formation of the Extrasolar System(s)

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