That could mean that life is hardier than you might expect. Although Earth is considered stable, it has still suffered global glaciations and meteorite impacts - and yet life has survived. “This planet is really on the verge of destruction all the time,” he said. Armstrong both hopeful and nervous about the prospect of finding life. If they turn out to be uncommon across the galaxy, it could mean that such stability - and therefore life - is hard to come by. And yet astronomers don’t know how common such moons are within the galaxy, said John Armstrong, an astronomer at Weber State University in Utah. It’s an interesting finding given that the Earth’s tilt never changes drastically thanks to the Moon. Those are two extremes that are far from habitable, even if those worlds looked like Earth in all other regards, said René Heller, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Germany.Īs such, a stable tilt just might be a necessary ingredient for life. Mercury at 0.03 degrees hardly slouches, while Uranus leans on its side at 82.23 degrees. Is life only possible on an exoplanet with a tilt similar to ours? Or will life arise on worlds that spin straight up and down like spinning tops or on their sides like a rotisserie chicken? And what if a world swings between two axial tilts? The answer is far from simple.Īlthough astronomers have yet to detect an exoplanet’s tilt, they suspect that they will vary wildly - much like the planets within our own solar system.

It’s a question that has been brought to the forefront of research as scientists have discovered thousands of exoplanets circling other stars within our galaxy, bringing them closer to finding an elusive Earth 2.0. Such a slouch, or obliquity, has long caused astronomers to wonder whether Earth’s tilt - which you could argue is in a sweet spot between more extreme obliquities - helped create the conditions necessary for life. The solstice occurs because Earth does not spin upright but leans 23.5 degrees on a tilted axis. That will cause the sun to rise early, climb high into the sky - sweeping far above city skylines or mountain peaks - and set late into the evening. On the summer solstice this Tuesday, the Northern Hemisphere will dip toward the sun and bathe in direct sunlight for longer than any other day of the year. Please refer to the following links for more information on vendor app lications, sponsorship opportunities, and ongoing updates in the coming weeks.This article, originally published in 2018, has been updated to reflect 2022’s solstice date. Smulyan emphasized that the festival will continue to offer a free showcase of great musical bands along with a variety of food, arts & crafts, and activities. Smulyan stated that in this first year back, he and the BID Boar d of Directors wanted to put on a reimagined event, with one large stage and the activation of a couple of smaller musical venues - o ne planned inside Black Cat Alley and another being considered near one of the three entrances to the Oak Leaf Bike Trail that are in the BID. The event has traditionally included three musical stages, with a variety of vendors and activities covering a n extended stretch of North Avenue and several side streets. The inaugural event was in 2001, and since it was not held in 20 due to the pandemic, this year marks the actual 2 0 th anniversary. In fact, it is the 20 th year of Summer Soulstice.

Summer soulstice 2021 milwaukee