Science of Avatar: Alpha Centauri, Gas Giants & Their Moons

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• James
• Cameron
• Avatar
• Pandora
• Na'vi
• Science
• Fiction
• Exoplanets

[ZionNeo1]

I haven't seen Avatar yet but...

You are correct, most likely if Pandora did orbit such a planet, conditions could theoretically be too extreme for life to survive. Also there would be weather fluctuations between hot and cold when Pandora orbits the gas giant.

Gas giant planets over 5 - 8 Jupiter masses are considered 'Brown Dwarfs' (between planets and actual stars).

[SimKoning]

Well the jury is still out and whether or not there is life on Europa and I wouldn't rule out ALL life. As far as the gas giant in the movie is concerned, it's supposed to be the size of Saturn. What would be interesting is that Pandora would have two suns, something they didn't show too well in the movie and it would likely be lit most of the time.

[tunkunrunk]

@SimKoning our dear smart scientist has forgotten that not so long it was believed life was impossible at higher pressur,higher temperature and without oxigen ,"deep-sea hydrothermal vents " proved they were wrong .so ,till we make a human exploration(not by space probe) of planets everything is possible into the vast and mysterious universe

[SimKoning]

@tunkunrunk I'm confused: are you making an argument from analogy that because we found extremophile sea life, that life might be able to survive the intense radiation flying around a gas giant? I'm not a scientist, never said I was and I hope I'm not giving the impression that I think I am.

[kinzetik]

Wow, the scientist must have had so much fun working with james cameron on the movie. It musta been like going to work at a scientific playground. Incredible.

[SimKoning]

That's what the artists said. One designer actually said "Cameron actually CARES about what kind of bolts hold the shuttle together!". He also got around the gas giant problem with the help of an astronomer, but I'll save that for another video.

[Winner8501]

Also, about the moons - there seems to be a rule of thumb that says that the more massive a gas giant is, the larger its moons. It seems to apply at least in our Solar System.

You're also correct that gas giants are probably not present in the AC system (fortunately, I say). A and B stars are so close to each other that planet orbits around each star are only stable to around 2-3 AU. If a gas giant sat there, it would probably disrupt orbits of any rocky planets that might have formed.

[RhysGarrish]

i have that book and its brilliant, and i think that the gas giant that pandora orbits could actualy provide the temperature and energy, and even elements neccesary for life

[GlueSniffer4Life]

I haven't seen the movie yet. I've been interested in the design of VentureStar for some time now and have now read stuff on the website you mentioned. Wow, Cameron is almost as anal about the details as Kubrick and cares about science. I knew he was a science geek since Terminator 2 where AI CPU was plausibly described.

[henik9]

I have that book, it's awesome. Explains everything about the Avatar world in soo much detail I love it. AVATAR CONFIDENTIAL