According to new research, moons orbiting rogue planets - planets that do not orbit a star - may provide suitable conditions for the emergence of life due to the gravitational forces of the planet.
New research suggests that life could potentially arise on moons of rogue planets, which are planets that wander the galaxy without orbiting a star. Computer simulations show that the gravitational interaction between a moon and its planet can generate enough heat to keep certain satellites warm and provide conditions for liquid water to exist. This is considered crucial for the emergence of life. Astrophysicist Giulia Roccetti and her team ran simulations of Earth-sized moons orbiting Jupiter-sized planets that were ejected from their solar systems.
They found that, with the right atmosphere and orbit, some moons can remain warm for over a billion years. Although an atmosphere is crucial for heat retention, moons with an atmosphere similar to Earth's are only habitable for up to 50 million years, while those with an atmosphere 10 times greater than Earth's can remain habitable for up to 1.6 billion years. Although free-floating planets may not be the most favorable places for life to arise, Roccetti believes that investigating all environments in the universe is important.
