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Large planets may not form fractionally large moons.

Miki Nakajima1,2, Hidenori Genda3, Erik Asphaug4

  • 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester, P.O. Box 270221, Rochester, NY, 14627, USA. mnakajima@rochester.edu.

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|February 2, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Large moons like Earth's may be rare around giant exoplanets. Our simulations suggest that planets larger than 1.6 Earth radii form vapor-rich disks, hindering the formation of substantial moons. Smaller exoplanets are better candidates for hosting large moons.

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Area of Science:

  • Planetary Science
  • Astrophysics
  • Exoplanetary Science

Background:

  • Earth's large Moon, formed by giant impact, stabilizes its spin axis and climate.
  • Impacts are common in planet formation, suggesting exomoons should exist, yet none are confirmed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate why fractionally large exomoons have not yet been detected.
  • To determine the conditions under which large moons can form around exoplanets.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing impact simulations to model moon formation.
  • Analyzing the properties of moon-forming disks around terrestrial and icy planets.

Main Results:

  • Initially vapor-rich moon-forming disks struggle to form large moons due to gas drag on moonlets.
  • Terrestrial and icy planets larger than approximately 1.3–1.6 Earth radii (R⊕) produce vapor disks that prevent large moon formation.

Conclusions:

  • The model supports theories of moon formation involving vapor-poor disks.
  • Rocky and icy exoplanets smaller than approximately 1.6 R⊕ are prime candidates for hosting fractionally large exomoons.