[Space] Multiple/Lots of Stars in one system

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Nemoricus

I'm not quite clear on what this is for. Would you be multiplying the inner and outer limits for the stars by these? And this is for multiple stars orbiting very closely together? Also, what is the rationale behind taking the square root of the numbers? Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious.

Yes, you multiply the inner and outer limits by the multiplier given, so that you get larger but hopefully overlaping zones.

The square roots are due to the inverse square law for radiant energy intensity. For instance, if there were two suns just alike right next to each other, there would be twice as much radiant energy in their solar system as in a single-sun solar system.

That means the borders of the habitable zone would be 1.4 times farther from the two suns, because 1.4*1.4~=2 for twice as many suns making it twice as hot at the single radius. Also, 1/1.4 * 1/1.4 ~= 1/2 half as hot for being 1.4 times as far away.

Now if you combine both situations, 1/2 as hot for distance and 2 times as hot for multiple suns, 1/2 * 2 = 1, so that with two suns, you have the same temperature range at distances 1.4 times as far away.