Solar analog
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Solar analog (or more informally a solar twin) is the name for a star with characteristics similar to our own Sun. Most scientists consider the prospect of having habitable planets is greater for solar twins than other stars.
A solar analog is a star with properties such as spectral type, surface temperature, rotational velocity, mass, variability and metallicity which are close to the solar values. Observations of solar analogs are important for understanding better the properties of our own Sun in relation to other stars and the habitability of planets.
Stars currently considered to be solar analogs include:
[edit] See also
- Earth twin is a planet that can be habited by human in a similar way to earth.
- Planetary habitability
- Space colonization
[edit] Further reading
- J. C. Hall & G. W. Lockwood (2004). "The Chromospheric Activity and Variability of Cycling and Flat Activity Solar-Analog Stars". The Astrophysical Journal 614: 942–946.
- G. W. Lockwood & B. A. Skiff (1997). "The Photometric Variability of Sun-like Stars: Observations and Results, 19841995". The Astrophysical Journal 485: 789-811.