11-16-2017, 06:30 PM
(11-16-2017, 04:53 AM)four Wrote: Interesting find. For reference, here's OA's existing article on Ross 128: http://www.orionsarm.com/eg-article/491700c65734d
I have a question. Is it possible that Ross 128b is locked in a 3:2 resonance with its star? Or is it guaranteed to be tidally locked?
If the former, I think I might try doing a large expansion of the Ross 128 article (whilst still maintaining the existing contents for consistency with other articles, of course). I have an idea, but my idea only works if Ross 128b isn't tidally locked (i.e. is presumably in a 3:2 resonance).
Unfortunately, the eccentricity of Ross 128 b's orbit is only 0.036 (plus or minus 0.092), so it is highly unlikely the planet is in anything but a tidally locked orbit. For a paper describing the link between orbital eccentricity and resonance, see here.
Radtech497
"I'd much rather see you on my side, than scattered into... atoms." Ming the Merciless, Ruler of the Universe