Page !1
A habitable moon concept based on the Alpha Centauri AB system and the film Avatar
Calculations based on recent astronomical surveys estimate that their could be as many as 60 billion habitable planets in our galaxy alone. However, our narrow understanding and knowledge of
these far away systems makes generalizations about extraterrestrial life in this vast and varied
planetary zoo impossible. Another way to learn about the nature of habitable systems is to invent
models of planetary systems and see if they are plausible in theory. In this paper I create a model
using two characteristics of solar systems seen in the 2009 science fiction film Avatar, but never
before observed to support life. The first is a binary star, two stars which orbit each other, which
we know much about from observing our two closest neighbor stars, Alpha Centauri A and B. In
fact, one possible planet has recently been detected in orbit around ACB. The second is the concept of a habitable moon. While an Earth-sized orbiting a Jupiter-sized planet has not been observed such as the film Avatar depicts, there is certainly not enough evidence to conclude that
this does not occur.
To support our calculations, we will first establish the basic properties and orbits of bodies involved. In Avatar, Pandora is a moon orbiting the gas giant Pandora which follows an S-type
(around one star only) orbit around ACA. We will base our system on depictions from the film
by assuming many properties of Polyphemus and Pandora to be roughly the same as that of
Jupiter and Earth. In addition the movie shows the axial tilt of Pandora to be quite small, which
means seasonal changes in temperature would be moderate.
Characteristics of habitability in a binary star system
The primary requirement in determining habitable planets is the precise amount of energy to
keep water in a liquid state. Surface temperature on the hypothetical Pandora would be mainly
the result of four factors: radiated heat from the suns, radiated heat from Polyphemus, the albedo
of Pandora and the heat retaining properties of Pandora and its atmosphere. To start with,
Polyphemus, the gas giant appears in the sky in the film with a perceived radius of about 10 in
the celestial sphere, and knowing actual radius we can estimate the orbital radius, RP, of Pandora:
RP = 43,000 km / tan10 = 240,000 km
We can now estimate the radiance from Polyphemus based on the known size and temperature of
Jupiter:
James Murdza
Page !2
James Murdza
Page !3
James Murdza
Page !4
In this paper I have shown by example that the basic thermal criteria for life can be met for a
body orbiting within a binary star system and/or as a moon orbiting a planet, just two examples
of habitable systems which can be hypothesized to exist. The temperature requirement is just the
most basic requirement for habitability, ensuring that liquid water can exist, but we can imagine
systems like this with every imaginable mineral and atmospheric composition. Future observations will seek out systems like these which are habitable, and finally prove weather or not they
do sustain life.