Earth's Habitable Zone

When we look at the universe in all its vastness, it is easy to believe that the Earth is small, and insignificant. Are there unknown civilizations, thriving on a faraway planet, just waiting to be discovered? Do our current scientific observations indicate a universe that is teeming with intelligent life?

In this issue, we’ll touch on a few of the extraordinary facts and theories on how Earth can survive in such a hostile Universe.

The Galactic Habitable Zone, and our Circum-Stellar Habitable Zone, appear to be very precise safe zones that the Earth can occupy without danger to human life.

Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is a spiral galaxy, consisting of an estimated 200 to 400 billion stars. The Sun is only one of these stars. Even with all of the beautiful features of the Milky Way, our galaxy also poses multiple dangers.

Galactic Habitable Zone

Many scientists believe that the center is composed of a massive black hole. Any object that passes near the event horizon of this hole is sucked in, never to appear again. Had our planet occupied an area near the Milky Way’s center, it would be unlikely to survive even a short amount of time.

The outer edges of the galaxy pose a threat to our existence as well. In these regions, the heavier elements essential for life are not found in any abundance. Our location, presumed to be between the Sagittarius and Perseus arms of the Milky Way, enables Earth to safely exist, without the threat of powerful supernovas, black holes, stellar collisions, or elemental deprivation.

In short, we are in the best possible position of our galaxy to survive.

Circum-Stellar Habitable Zone

Each star is a burning mass of plasma, similar to our home star. 95 percent of all stars are less massive than our Sun, and smaller stars are found in abundance.

If the Sun was smaller, then the habitable zone for Earth would be much further inward, and that would induce synchronous rotation. The gravity from the Sun would cause one side of the Earth to continually face the Sun, and the other side to face away. In other words, there would be no day and night, only boiling temperatures on one side, and freezing temperatures on the other.

Earth is around 93 million miles from the Sun, and is situated in a very narrow band with the correct distance for habitability. If it were only 5 percent closer to the Sun, the Earth would become like the planet Venus, boiling hot, and uninhabitable. However, if we were just 20 percent farther away, the Earth would become like Mars, freezing and still uninhabitable.

There can be no doubt that the Earth is in a favored position, one of the few positions in which human life can be sustained.

The Earth is a special heavenly body that was created with purpose. It is the planet on which the covenant was given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The planet on which prophets lived, spoke, and did miraculous things in the name of the Lord, and the very place that our Creator sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live, die, be raised again, and offer salvation to a desperate world.

This same planet is the one on which you are standing today:

Our Special Earth.

David Rives

For an in-depth look at astronomy and the Bible, check out the new documentary: "The Heavens Declare the Glory of God DVD"

About the Author David Rives is dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Biblically based astronomy. He lectures nationally on the majesty of our Creator, and how the "Heavens Declare the Glory of God".