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Earth`s orbit tilted by lost star
Ever wondered why the Earth`s orbit is tilted to the Sun`s equator?
Washington: Ever wondered why the Earth`s orbit is tilted to the Sun`s equator?
A new theory suggests an errant young star strayed close and pulled our developing planets out of whack with the Sun`s equator.
Accounting for planets that circle their stars on tilted paths, this idea may also explains why Earth`s orbit is tipped 7 degree relative to the Sun`s equator, `ScienceNOW` reported.
"misaligned orbits are actually natural outcome disk migration?once you take into account fact planetary systems usually born multistellar environments," said, noting many stars have companions.![]()
If Batygin is right, Winn says, then misalignments should be just as common in solar systems that lack hot Jupiters, because tilting a disk doesn`t require their presence.
NASA`s Kepler spacecraft has measured the tilt of just one multiplanet system: the three planets around Kepler 30, all of which have orbits that line up with their star`s equator.
"I think somewhere in the Milky Way, there`s a star that`s responsible for tilting us," Batygin says. He suspects the Sun once had a companion star that tipped the solar nebula by 7 degree, then fled the scene after the planets arose.
"There`s a good chance that astronomers will find misalignment in the Alpha Centauri system," Batygin said. PTI
A new theory suggests an errant young star strayed close and pulled our developing planets out of whack with the Sun`s equator.
Accounting for planets that circle their stars on tilted paths, this idea may also explains why Earth`s orbit is tipped 7 degree relative to the Sun`s equator, `ScienceNOW` reported.
"misaligned orbits are actually natural outcome disk migration?once you take into account fact planetary systems usually born multistellar environments," said, noting many stars have companions.
NASA`s Kepler spacecraft has measured the tilt of just one multiplanet system: the three planets around Kepler 30, all of which have orbits that line up with their star`s equator.
"I think somewhere in the Milky Way, there`s a star that`s responsible for tilting us," Batygin says. He suspects the Sun once had a companion star that tipped the solar nebula by 7 degree, then fled the scene after the planets arose.
"There`s a good chance that astronomers will find misalignment in the Alpha Centauri system," Batygin said. PTI