Researchers with the UW-led Virtual Planetary Laboratory are central to a group of papers published by NASA researchers today in the journal Astrobiology outlining the history 鈥� and suggesting the future 鈥� of the search for life on exoplanets, or those orbiting stars other than the sun.
Aspects of an otherwise Earthlike planet鈥檚 tilt and orbital dynamics can severely affect its potential habitability 鈥� even triggering abrupt 鈥渟nowball states鈥� where oceans freeze and surface life is impossible, according to new research from UW astronomers.
New research by UW astronomer Rory Barnes and co-authors describes possible planetary systems where a gravitational nudge from one planet with just the right orbital configuration and tilt could have a mild to devastating effect on the orbit and climate of another, possibly habitable world.