1
Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Could a star orbit a planet?
« on: 24/11/2018 19:13:16 »
Under natural formation scenarios, massive planets tend to accumulate large amounts of hydrogen. This, in turn, means that any sufficiently massive object formed with a large hydrogen content would be capable of performing thermonuclear fusion in its core. That would put an upper limit on planet mass.
However, this might change in the distant future. Once most of the hydrogen in the universe had been burned into heavier elements by stars, then the formation of super-massive planets with very little hydrogen content may be possible. In that scenario, you certainly could have planets that are heavier than some currently existing stars.
In the case of a planet composed entirely out of iron and heavier elements, it would have no thermonuclear-based upper limit on its mass because those elements cannot release energy by fusing. The mass could keep increasing until it collapses into a white dwarf. If the mass exceeds about 1.4 solar masses, it would collapse into a neutron star.
That depends on what you mean by "die". If you are talking about a star going supernova, that most certainly could disrupt the orbits of the planets around it. Maybe under the right circumstances that could push a planet or two on a favorable course to have them captured by the other star. It's probably not a particularly likely event, though.
However, this might change in the distant future. Once most of the hydrogen in the universe had been burned into heavier elements by stars, then the formation of super-massive planets with very little hydrogen content may be possible. In that scenario, you certainly could have planets that are heavier than some currently existing stars.
In the case of a planet composed entirely out of iron and heavier elements, it would have no thermonuclear-based upper limit on its mass because those elements cannot release energy by fusing. The mass could keep increasing until it collapses into a white dwarf. If the mass exceeds about 1.4 solar masses, it would collapse into a neutron star.
This brings up another question I have regarding Binary Solar Systems:
If one star within a binary solar system should die and ( if both stars had their own planets revolving), would it be possible for the remaining planets of the dead star to be incorporated into the system of the remaining star, should that star be close enough to attract these planets into it's gravitational pull? Therefore adding new planets into the now singular System?
That depends on what you mean by "die". If you are talking about a star going supernova, that most certainly could disrupt the orbits of the planets around it. Maybe under the right circumstances that could push a planet or two on a favorable course to have them captured by the other star. It's probably not a particularly likely event, though.
The following users thanked this post: Janks