Extra Solar Planets Essay

Submitted By blazests009
Words: 1336
Pages: 6
Open Document
Humankind’s Discovery of Extra-Solar Planets and its Effects on Religion
Scott R. Pelow
ITT Technical College
S. Slovik
EN-1320: Composition one

Throughout the history humankind has looked to the stars and wondered if they are alone in the universe. Only in the past few hundred years have humans had the means to start answering this timeless and most important of questions and now that humans have begun to discover extra-solar planets in their galactic neighborhood they may soon find out. The sheer mathematical probability since there are hundreds of billions of stars that populate the Milky Way galaxy. Since 1995, more than 200 extra-solar planets have been discovered, demonstrating not only are those planetary systems are common, but also that planets may come in a large variety of flavors. As the number of detections grows, statistical studies of the properties of exoplanets and their host stars can be conducted to unravel some of the key physical and chemical processes leading to the formation of planetary systems (Santos, 2008). The study of extra-solar planets has become one of the most active fields of research in astronomy since the discovery in 1995 of several giant planets orbiting nearby stars similar to the Sun. There have been many unexpected results, and the progress has been remarkable. More than 100 planets are now known, many of them in systems of two or more bodies orbiting the same star. In one case it has even been possible to detect the atmosphere of the planet as it transits between us and its star. Although the number of detected extra-solar planets continues to grow at a steady rate, the frequency is still fairly low. Only a few percent of the stars surveyed so far are known to have planets. Presumably this fraction will continue to rise as search techniques improve and we extend the detections to smaller planets and wider orbits. But Doppler spectroscopy cannot be expected to detect Earth-like planets orbiting in the habitable zones of solar-type stars. Effects such as convective motions near the surface of the star, or star spots combined with stellar rotation, can cause spurious Doppler shifts much larger than the Earth would induce. Remarkably, a system of Earth-sized planets has already been discovered in orbit around a pulsar, the remnant of a supernova explosion, using the extraordinarily precise timing of the radio pulses to deduce the displacement of the spinning neutron star induced by the planets.
Of course, there is much more interest in finding habitable planets orbiting stars like the Sun. Perhaps the most promising technique for finding other Earths is to search for transiting systems (Lathman, 2003). As of 2010 about 500 planets had been discovered, and the 2010 Decadal Survey cited extra-solar planet research as one of the three pillars of modern astrophysics. The growth and interest in extra-solar planet research remains impressive for a field that did not exist 15 years earlier. (Butler, 2012) the Catholic Church has finally admitted it was in wrong in the Galileo affair. And the new pope has acknowledged the basic facts of evolution: the Big Bang event, the age of the earth, the fossil record, and genetic connections across species. Moreover, in 2009 the Vatican hosted a conference on astrobiology and the question of whether there is life on other planets (Fiala, 2013).
Religions will have to evolve beyond an exclusive focus on the earth. While some critics may hope that this phase in the evolution of religion may lead us beyond religion altogether, it is more likely that religion will develop in new directions. While the discovery of exoplanets finally confirms the fact that there is nothing special about our planet, defenders of the rare earth hypothesis can focus on the specifics of temperature differentials, gravitational fields, the chemical composition of the atmosphere, and the presence of liquid water to argue that intelligent life remains special. It is more
Show More

Related Documents: Extra Solar Planets Essay

Asteroids and Meadiorites Essay

they are in resonance Keeps Debris mixed so it never could form another planet Orbital Resonance For every time N times one of them orbits the other orbits M (eg. 3:4 here). So their gravitational pull gets repeatedly reinforces. How close are asteroids together? In reality: I M sized objects are on average 70 km apart Near earth objects We know of 10,000 near earth objects: orbits are in the same part of the solar system as us. We know of 1500 potentially hazardous asteroids: orbits cross…

Words 1229 - Pages 5

Presentation: Planet and Habitable Zone Essay

Extraterrestrial Life? What is Meant By Intelligent Extra-terrestrial Life? • Capable of thinking • Making conscious Decisions • Purposeful activity Adaptability of Life We know from Earth that life can survive and thrive in extreme conditions o Extreme Temperatures: -15c – +60c o Extreme Dryness, or underwater o With light, without light o Extreme altitudes o Extreme pressure This shows that the range at which life can survive is vast. Necessary Conditions For Planet To Support Life • Comfortable distance…

Words 810 - Pages 4

Magnetar A Nova Star

been a question for a long time, why cant Pluto be a planet, how big does a planet have to be, these are all questions people ask. In return, scientists decided to really define what a planet was in 2006. In order for something to be a planet, it must orbit the sun, have the sufficient mass to be somewhat rounded, not a moon of another planet and has pushed mall debris out of its orbit. The difference between a dwarf planet and a regular planet is that a dwarf hasn't pushed small debris out of its…

Words 1971 - Pages 8

Mass Perplexity

The criteria of what determines a planet has been a controversial topic being argued and debated for years. The differing ideas of what determines a planet has recently changed, now excluding Pluto as a planet, and now down-grading it to a dwarf planet. This abrupt change is still confused with many citizens of the world today, and without a proper discussion on the topic, mass perplexity will continue as if it were a plague. This could all be changed if people were informed and were able to use…

Words 898 - Pages 4

The Importance Of Making Earth A Planet

What is a planet? What makes Earth a planet? Just like Earth, planets need to revolve around a star. Earth revolves around the Sun, making Earth a planet. Planets need to be big enough to make a spherical shape. Earth is a sphere, making Earth a planet. Planets also need to clear a path around the star they revolve around called an orbit. Earth orbits the sun, making Earth a planet. The planets are in a specific order while they revolve around the sun. The planet closest to the sun is Mercury. Mercury…

Words 1322 - Pages 6

Pluto Geology

dwarf planet, its orbit is much longer than that of Earth – it takes roughly 248 Earth years to complete one rotation about the Sun. That means since people discovered Pluto in 1930 it has just completed one-third of the cycle. In this tiny distant world, its atmosphere and surface undergo interesting interactions and changes. This report is going to discuss the characteristics of Pluto's atmosphere and surface…

Words 1824 - Pages 8

Essay on Solar Power

Solar Energy: The Power of the Future Fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gasses have been making life possible since before the Industrial Revolution. These were the first forms of energy supply after draft animals, water wheels, windmills, and steam engines. By 1900 power plants started forming and coal had taken over as the main energy supply, and by 1950 petroleum and natural gasses had joined in. Today most of the United States and the world depend on these nonrenewable energy…

Words 1222 - Pages 5

GEOL 108 Chapter 1 1 Essay

environment. • Identify the four environmental “spheres” of Earth. • Illustrate how the concept of Earth systems helps us to understand the interrelationships of the four environmental “spheres” of Earth. • Describe Earth’s relationships within the solar system. • Compare the size of Earth with the size of its surface features. © 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Learning Goals of This Chapter • Determine the latitude of a location on Earth. • Determine the longitude of a location on Earth. • Locate a…

Words 1380 - Pages 6

Colonizing Venus Research Paper

to colonize Venus it is the hottest planet in our solar system, it has a poisonous atmosphere and if we touch the surface or even get near it we will burn to death. What if we don’t touch the surface, up in the Venusian atmosphere it is not too hot so we will not burn to death. NASA researchers have proposed an idea to live atop the clouds with helium-filled airships until we terraform Venus. Colonizing Venus would be a good idea because it is the closest planet to Earth and if we live in the Venusian…

Words 536 - Pages 3

Essay on The study of extraterrestrial life

life are in our solar system. Most of emphasis has been on Mars, because of the frozen ice caps on the poles. But the fact is that we would probably (if at all) find only signs of life that have been extinct for millions of years. There are some places in our solar system that are promising in terms of finding life. One of the most exciting places for housing extra-terrestrial life in our solar system is Saturn's…

Words 457 - Pages 2