Barnards Star Planet Could Be Habitable

[Dryson]

https://www.space.com/42963-barnards-star-planet-may-be-habitable.html

New research suggests that heat generated by geothermal processes could warm pockets of water beneath the surface of the planet called Barnard's Star b, potentially providing havens for life to evolve. Images captured by NASA's much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope could help determine if the planet is the right size for that phenomenon to occur, and instruments coming even later in the future could identify signs of life.

With each generation of space based telescopes the ability to detect life on other planets becomes clearer and clearer. Earth's ability to detect life on planets is much like radar detection methods used to track fighter planes during World War II. Not very reliable but in the quest to defeat the enemy and being competitive that infant radar system has evolved into the James Webb Space Telescope.

 

[publiusr]

That star moves pretty fast:
https://forum.cosmoquest.org/showth...arnard-s-Star-Animation-now-spanning-10-years

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Yeah, it has the highest proper motion of any star -- just over 10 seconds of arc per year or about the apparent diameter of the Moon every 180 years (as seen from the Earth).

 

[Dryson]

Yeah, it has the highest proper motion of any star -- just over 10 seconds of arc per year or about the apparent diameter of the Moon every 180 years (as seen from the Earth).

How does the highest proper motion of Barnard's Star effect the likelihood of life existing an planets in orbit around the star itself?

Will the relative temperature increase due to the proximity of Barnard's Star in the future cause possibly new life to take place on planets in our own solar system such as Enceladus?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

How does the highest proper motion of Barnard's Star effect the likelihood of life existing an planets in orbit around the star itself?

It doesn't have any effect. Proper motion is the relative velocity perpendicular to our line of sight. The value varies according to your location and velocity relative to the observed object.

Will the relative temperature increase due to the proximity of Barnard's Star in the future cause possibly new life to take place on planets in our own solar system such as Enceladus?

No, Barnard's Star, a relatively dim red dwarf at a distance of 6 or so light years, is not expected to come closer to the Sun than just over 3 light years. Its apparent brightness would increase only by a factor of about 4 so any temperature increase would be tiny and probably unmeasurable. I guess its gravity could disrupt some outer Oort cloud objects and cause bombardment by comets of the inner solar system but not with as much effect as when Alpha Centauri makes its closest approach and at three light years, that will probably hardly be much at all.

 

[publiusr]

Gliese 710 will give us a much closer shave
https://www.iflscience.com/space/theres-another-star-headed-straight-for-us-sooner-than-we-thought/

I think this was the star Mallove and Matloff called DM 61 366 in THE STARFLIGHT HANDBOOK.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Gliese 710 will give us a much closer shave
https://www.iflscience.com/space/theres-another-star-headed-straight-for-us-sooner-than-we-thought/

I think this was the star Mallove and Matloff called DM 61 366 in THE STARFLIGHT HANDBOOK.

Oh well, we have a million years to prepare for it. I wonder if we will or just cross our fingers and hope.