What if the planets were in the same position as our moon?

[Bullgrit]

For these situations, (individually), how would Earth be affected? (Assume Earth is still in it's orbital position relative to the Sun -- that is, the Earth isn't moved to the distance of Jupiter for the Jupiter picture, etc.) In some cases, I guess, Earth would be the satellite, and eclipses would be more of an event. But what else?

Bullgrit

 

[darjr]

being that close to Jupiter would be fatal. the radiation alone would be a huge problem then imagine the tidal forces!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Being that close to any of the planets would probably be fatal due to a gravitic death spiral...

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Being that close to any of the planets would probably be fatal due to a gravitic death spiral...

I dunno, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are probably small enough to create a stable binary orbit with the Earth, with both planets orbiting a common center which is itself orbiting the Sun. We'd have a lot of weird eclipses, often. Much bigger tides. Perhaps more volcanic activity.

Venus and Mars might be able to be developed to be habitable and sustain life if they were in our orbit -- would be great to have a close option to terraform.

 

[jonesy]

I dunno, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are probably small enough to create a stable binary orbit with the Earth, with both planets orbiting a common center which is itself orbiting the Sun. We'd have a lot of weird eclipses, often. Much bigger tides. Perhaps more volcanic activity.

Any combination of planets and stars have a plausible chance for a stable orbit, but only if the distance is right. The stated premise has them at a very close proximity.

 

[Bullgrit]

Wouldn't a stable orbit between Earth and another planet just require Earth move at a high orbital velocity? (To avoid the death spiral.) Isn't the Moon and Earth pair already unique compared to the other planets and their satellites?

Bullgrit

 

[Umbran]

Folks, you can have a stable orbit of two Earth-sized planets so close that they even share an atmosphere! See Robert L Forward's Rocheworld Series.

A couple of things - if you have something like Jupiter or Saturn there... well, you aren't talking about having Jupiter orbit the Earth, but the Earth orbiting Jupiter. Technically, the two orbit their common center of mass - but when one of the pair is so much lager, their common center of mass is deep inside the larger planet.

I will crunch some numbers tomorrow, and see if being that close violates any Roche limits for the various bodies in question.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Booooooo- facts & science!

 

[crossmlk]

Yeah it wouldn't be good news for Earth to be that close to any of the planets but it sure looks cool!

 

[darjr]

Yeah! Science!

Being that close to Jupiter should would make for nice skies. And think how close we'd be to Europa!

I do wonder in what kind of orbit we'd need to have to be around Jupiter to be safe. And how cool it would be to be so close to all those other moons.