ASTRON 1141 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Electromagnetic Spectrum
12 Dec 2015
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Define the meaning of habitable zone using the specific definition in class. As far as we know life is dependent on liquid water. Liquid water is dependent on temperatures between 0 and 100 degrees celsius. The space around star offers a variable range of temperatures that relate to the stars brightness (luminosity mitigated by distance). A planets temperature depends on the stars brightness at the planets average orbiting radius, the size of the planet, and the planet"s atmosphere. A star"s luminosity depends on its temperature and surface area. Because surface area and mass are both related to a stars size a more luminous star (which would have the corresponding large surface area) is likely to have more mass. A star larger than the sun would have a comparatively more distant and larger habitable zone. A smaller star"s habitable zone would be closer and smaller than the habitual zone in our solar system.
