Our solar system is home to eight planets, but thus far only Earth is thought to harbor life. There are a number of parameters that define a planet and its relationship towards the sun. These parameters affect a planet's potential to support life. Examples of these parameters include the planetary radius and the orbital radius around the sun.
Orbital Radius and Planetary Radius
A planet's orbital radius is its average distance from the sun. This is one of the most important parameters in determining the potential for life to exist on a planet, since it plays a major part in determining planetary temperature. The planetary radius is the distance between a planet's center and its surface. Therefore, planetary radius is a measure of a planet's size.
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About the Author
Samuel Markings has been writing for scientific publications for more than 10 years, and has published articles in journals such as "Nature." He is an expert in solid-state physics, and during the day is a researcher at a Russell Group U.K. university.
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