Chapter 8: Creation of the Solar System

The size of the sun, the size of the planet’s orbit, the resulting temperatures on the planet, and the length of the growing season need to be meticulously controlled and positioned in order for life to flourish on the Earth.

  • A larger sun gives off more heat and has a greater gravitational pull on a planet.
  • The distance from the sun to the planet controls the temperature on the planet.
  • The size of the orbit controls the length of the growing season.
  • Only a very intelligent Creator can design a Solar System and optimize it so life can flourish on one of its planets.

The size of the planet controls the gravitational force on the planet.

  • As planets get larger, the gravitational forces increase which increases our body weight.
  • Our body weight impacts our skeletal structure and our mobility.
  • If the Earth was as large as Jupiter, a 200 pound human would weigh 2,243 pounds.
  • Yes, there is a reason why Earth is not as large as Jupiter.

The time it takes the Earth to rotate one revolution about its axis controls the length of our day.

  • All planets do not have the same length of days and nights.
  • Mercury’s day is equal to 176 Earth days.
  • Venus’s day is equal to 243 Earth days.
  • The length of our days and nights determine the difference between our daily maximum and minimum temperatures.
  • As the nighttime lengthens, freezing temperatures become more frequent which affect our growing season. If our length of night was as long as Mercury and Venus, it would freeze every night and life would not be possible.

Seasons are very important for life on the Earth.

  • Seasons are created by the axial tilt of the Earth with respect to the orbital plane.
  • Seasons are necessary for our quality of life on Earth.
  • Seasons create optimum temperatures for growing crops.
  • It would appear that the Earth has the optimum axial tilt.

Stars are in integral part for forming the different elements.

  • Stars come in all sizes. Each size is critical for the formation of different elements.
  • Scientist Fred Hoyle (1915-2001) published his Theory of Stellar Nucleosyntheses in 1946.
    • This theory describes how different elements are created inside different sized stars.
    • When the star explodes at the end of its life, these elements are scattered into the nebula where planets form.
  • The Nucleosynthesis Periodic Table shows the required star size to create each element.
  • As we discuss the role of stars in forming the various elements, it is impossible not to realize that God is in control.
  • We discuss supernovas, and the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (how stars are classified).
  • Only within the past 100 years have scientists understood how elements are and were created―yet it has been going on for billions of years.
  • Only God knows how to create different sized stars, and the quantity of stars required to create all the necessary elements to support life.

Recently NASA has introduced a new theory for how the Moon was created.

  • In 2012, NASA presented a new theory for how the moon was created. The theory describes two planetary bodies colliding with each other. These planets were about five times the size of Mars. This collision created the Earth and the moon. Greg Schmidt (NLSI Deputy Director) said, “Our understanding of the Solar System is constantly being refined with each new discovery.”
  • Until recently, scientists felt the moon was created by “The Giant Impact Hypothesis.” This was a collision between the Earth and a smaller planet named Theia. Part of Theia combined with Earth and the rest went into space and formed the moon.

The Moon has some unique characteristics which are vital for life on the Earth.

  • The diameter ratio of our moon to the Earth is close to six times larger than other planets that have moons.
  • The moon only reflects 7% of the light from the sun (about the same reflection as black coal) while our Earth reflects 39% of the light it receives from the sun. If the moon reflected the same as the Earth, we would not have very dark nights.

This chapter reviews the various theories for how stars and planets are formed.

  • Swedish scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) presented a theory known as Nebular Hypothesis.
  • It was later refined by Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and published as the Universal Natural History and Theory of the Heavens.
  • Soviet astronomer Victor Safronov (1917-1999) presented a variation of the original theory and is now known as The Solar Nebular Disk Model.
  • We discuss stars are continually being formed.
  • We discuss how planets are being formed.
  • We discuss how the new James Webb Space Telescope will aid scientists in refining how stars and planets are formed.

God has optimized everything in our Solar System to provide an ideal environment for our wonderful and beautiful Earth.

 

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