Distance from sun saved earth from Venus' fate

Research into 'critical distance' between twin planets may aid search for life near other stars

PUBLISHED : Friday, 31 May, 2013, 12:00am
UPDATED : Friday, 31 May, 2013, 2:57am

Similar in size and often referred to as twin planets, the earth and Venus evolved from common origins into two contrasting worlds - one dry and inhospitable, the other wet and teeming with life.

The reason has had science stumped, until now. Writing in the journal Nature on Wednesday, a Japanese research team said the answer was to be found in the planets' respective proximity to the sun.

Though relatively close on a cosmic scale - the earth is 150 million kilometres from the sun, and Venus 108 million kilometres - the planets most likely orbit on either side of a "critical distance" from their central star.


At some 12,000 kilometres, Venus' diameter is about 95 per cent that of the earth, and its mass about 80 per cent. It orbits between the earth and Mercury, the closest planet to the sun.


Its average surface temperature is a searing 477 degrees Celsius.


However, type II planets, of which Venus may be an example, would remain in a molten state for longer, as much as 100 million years, as it got more of the sun's heat - with more time for any water to escape.


The new method may be useful in the study of planets beyond our own solar system - helping to determine which ones would be most likely to host life, the researchers added.




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