Twin Earth

[TheBigDog]

This is a hypothetical. It may be moved to strange claims, but I will give it a go here first.

 

Imagine that there were another planet in our solar system. That panet is nearly identical in dimensions to the earth. It is in the exact same orbit as the earth. But it is exactly 180 degrees opposite the earth in its orbit. It is forever hidden from observation from the earth by the sun. Now, I am accepting the fact that this notion is increadibly far fetched. The odds against it are astronomical in the extreme. But have we bothered to look? I dare say that we have discovered stanger things in the universe.

 

Any ideas on how we would handle such a discovery?

 

Bill

[Tormod]

If you look at a chart of the Earth's orbit, you'd realize that there are times when we can see the spot at 180 degrees opposite. This is because the orbit is elliptical.

 

Another simple way would simply be to use a radar telescope to look through the sun. The sun would disappear and we would see whatever is on the other side.

[TheBigDog]

If you look at a chart of the Earth's orbit, you'd realize that there are times when we can see the spot at 180 degrees opposite. This is because the orbit is elliptical.

 

Another simple way would simply be to use a radar telescope to look through the sun. The sun would disappear and we would see whatever is on the other side.

Now suppose it was made of a clear radar absorbing material... :rolleyes:

 

Bill

[Janus]

This is a hypothetical. It may be moved to strange claims, but I will give it a go here first.

 

Imagine that there were another planet in our solar system. That panet is nearly identical in dimensions to the earth. It is in the exact same orbit as the earth. But it is exactly 180 degrees opposite the earth in its orbit. It is forever hidden from observation from the earth by the sun. Now, I am accepting the fact that this notion is increadibly far fetched. The odds against it are astronomical in the extreme. But have we bothered to look? I dare say that we have discovered stanger things in the universe.

 

Any ideas on how we would handle such a discovery?

 

Bill

 

It is more than far fetched, it is impossible. The problem is that such a twin Earth would not stay 180 degrees opposite the Earth. All the planets perturb each other by their gravitational pull. Since the two Earth's would not get perturbed in the same way at the same time, they will get pulled out of their 180° relative positions, and once they even slighty drift out of position, the tendancy will be to drift even further from postion. Soon they will be nowhere near being 180° apart and would be easily visible to the other.

 

Also, even if for some reason the twin Earth was able to hold its relative position to the Earth, we would know that it was there withoput even having to see it, since it would perturb the orbits of the other planets, and we would have noticed that long ago.

[TheBigDog]

Now this thread will sit. It will age nicely unnoticed accept for the searchbots from Yahoo. Until someday, someone comes along and offers proof that it is true. That is my prediction. Thank you Janus and Tormod for playing along. :rolleyes:

 

Bill

[Moontanman]

This is a hypothetical. It may be moved to strange claims, but I will give it a go here first.

 

Imagine that there were another planet in our solar system. That panet is nearly identical in dimensions to the earth. It is in the exact same orbit as the earth. But it is exactly 180 degrees opposite the earth in its orbit. It is forever hidden from observation from the earth by the sun. Now, I am accepting the fact that this notion is increadibly far fetched. The odds against it are astronomical in the extreme. But have we bothered to look? I dare say that we have discovered stanger things in the universe.

 

Any ideas on how we would handle such a discovery?

 

Bill

 

I don't know if it's possible but the only stable orbit you could have like that would a five planets all orbiting in the same orbit equalily distant from each other and the sun.

 

Michael

[LaurieAG]

This is a hypothetical. It may be moved to strange claims, but I will give it a go here first.

 

Imagine that there were another planet in our solar system. That panet is nearly identical in dimensions to the earth. It is in the exact same orbit as the earth. But it is exactly 180 degrees opposite the earth in its orbit. It is forever hidden from observation from the earth by the sun. Now, I am accepting the fact that this notion is increadibly far fetched. The odds against it are astronomical in the extreme. But have we bothered to look? I dare say that we have discovered stanger things in the universe.

 

Any ideas on how we would handle such a discovery?

 

Bill

 

Hello Bill,

 

I don't know about a twin planet, but there is just as much of a possibility that there could be a twin solar system (maybe even higher probability/possibility) on the opposite side of our galactic center.

[starseed1977]

First I found this information on Zeta Talk. Nothing is impossible. Look at our Moon, it is artificial satellite on the exactly the distance from earth to match size of sun as it appears from earth. Only satellite that's "hiding" the other side. It is not suspicious to nobody? My God, if only people would learn to think out of their box. There is so much evidence of higher intelligence around us. We live in the cosmic zoo. Like a fish in aquarium thinks that this is all that is. What could be out there in the space is far beyond our primitive imagination end understanding.

[Moontanman]

First I found this information on Zeta Talk. Nothing is impossible. Look at our Moon, it is artificial satellite on the exactly the distance from earth to match size of sun as it appears from earth. Only satellite that's "hiding" the other side. It is not suspicious to nobody? My God, if only people would learn to think out of their box. There is so much evidence of higher intelligence around us. We live in the cosmic zoo. Like a fish in aquarium thinks that this is all that is. What could be out there in the space is far beyond our primitive imagination end understanding.

 

I agree, the apparent size of the Moon and the sun is an amazing coincidence but there is no stable orbit for a planet on the other side of the sun. If it was there and if it wasn't perturbed by all the other planets it would be visible because the earth's orbit is not completely in the plane of the sun equator. The other planet would peak above the sun from time to time as it and the earth followed each other in orbit. Please think of the solar system in 3d not 2d. Do you have any other evidence of intelligence around us?

[Tormod]

Only satellite that's "hiding" the other side.

 

From us, you mean? Maybe. Good thing we have space probes to see that "dark" side of the moon!

 

It's however a very common phenomenon and it's called "tidal locking".

 

Check wikipedia for more:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_locking

 

Here's to hoping you get something out of that box!

[Janus]

I agree, the apparent size of the Moon and the sun is an amazing coincidence

 

It isn't quite as an amazing coincidence as some people think. Because of the eccentricity of the Moon's orbit, its apparent size changes as seen by this image of the Moon at perigee and apogee.

 

(From Inconstant Moon: The Moon at Perigee and Apogee)

 

The apparent size of the Sun varies slightly for the same reason, So there is some built in "slop" to the fit. Since Solar eclipses can happen at any time of the year and with the Moon at any point in its orbit, sometimes the Moon is actually a little larger than the Sun and at others it is smaller. When it is smaller, part of the photosphere of the Sun always shows. This is known as an annular eclipse.

[gypsyphyr]

This is a hypothetical. It may be moved to strange claims, but I will give it a go here first.

 

 

 

Any ideas on how we would handle such a discovery?

 

Bill

 

Hmm maybe I am just literal minded, but everyone seems to be responding to the hypothetical, and not the question 'how we would handle such a discovery'. Unfortunately I think it would be about the same as anything else - some would freak, many would eulogize, some would worship and most would chuckle and get back to work.

[Tormod]

Hmm maybe I am just literal minded, but everyone seems to be responding to the hypothetical, and not the question 'how we would handle such a discovery'.

 

Good observation.

 

Which means we should move this thread into social science.

[freeztar]

Awesome, Janus!