Astronomy

Worlds in the habitable zone

Move a planet through the stellar radiation field. Compare absorbed and emitted energy as stellar luminosity and cloud reflectivity change.

By Mykhailo Makarov

Actual application image

The model and its limits

Zero-dimensional equilibrium temperature with uniform heat redistribution. The shaded band is a fixed-flux teaching interval, not a prediction of habitability or surface liquid water.

Equations used in the module

Equations
T_eq = [L☉ L (1-A)/(16πσr²)]^(1/4); F = 1361 L/r_AU²

Related experiments

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Astronomy / Earth

Inside planets and the Sun

Probe a calculated rocky planet, or explore reference cutaways of the Sun and the four giant planets.

Astronomy / Earth

When an atmosphere escapes

Heat the exobase and switch molecular mass. Compare the escape speed with the thermal velocity distribution and the Jeans escape parameter.

Astronomy

Flying through a meteor stream

Fly Earth through a comet’s debris stream. Increase the entry velocity and watch parallel paths converge toward a common sky radiant.