A tidally locked planet does not rotate in relation to its sun. One side is always day, one, always night. This is caused by tidal forces pulling all planets towards this same equilibrium, so it’s completely stable once it does occur…a tidally locked planet at an earthlike distance from the sun would be scorching heat on one side, freezing ice on the other.

What about at different distances? Is there a band of orbital distance where the night side of a tidally locked planet is warm enough for liquid water? Or one far away enough that the day side can have oceans?

  • montar@lemmy.ml
    5·
    10 months ago

    Temperatures would be okay in the twilight zone, not sure about water, but winds would blow you out of your shoes.

    • Exocrinous@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      10 months ago

      What about a planet so distant from its star that the day side gets as much light as earth at twilight? 2AU from a sol size star, there should be a quarter as much light during the day. What about there?