Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Researchers are trying to predict the appearance of aliens on Earth. The same study also predicted the evolution of planets in the Alpha Centauri system.
Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to an exoplanet that scientists believe is similar to Earth, Proxima B. The planet is located in the habitable zone or Goldilocks, meaning it orbits its Sun at a distance close enough for water to be available. 3/2022).
The research team from the Swiss university ETH Zurich created a hypothetical rocky planet model with the elemental composition of the Alpha Centauri system. They did so with real spectroscopic data on the chemical compositions of two of the three star systems, Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B.
Both are similar to the Sun in our solar system and orbit each other. Proxima Centauri is also known as a smaller, fainter red dwarf and orbits a larger pair.
Astronomers study all three and their stars extensively. So far there are no confirmed planets around Alpha Centauri A or B, but they did identify three candidate planets around Procima Centauri.
This research explores what could orbit one of the two Sun-like stars in the system. Scientists know that both contain rock-forming elements such as iron, magnesium and silicon, as well as volatile substances such as hydrogen, carbon and oxygen.
With the data available, the team investigated what rocky planets orbiting in both would look like if they did exist.
The team estimated the planet’s internal structure, mineralogy and atmospheric composition. The researchers say this is a very important feature of understanding long-term evolution and habitability potential.
They found that if a rocky planet like this existed around one of the stars it would likely be geochemically similar to Earth.
The planet is thought to have a mantle with silicates and materials thanks to carbon such as graphite and diamond. The researchers also said the planet’s rocky interior would have the same water storage capacity as Earth.
But there are also differences, such as a slightly larger iron core. There is also less geological activity and perhaps no plate tectonics at all.
In its early years, it was also estimated that the atmosphere of a planet called Alpha-Cen-Earth consisted of carbon dioxide, methane and water. This is similar to the beginning of the Earth four to 2.5 billion years ago.
(npb/roy)
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