What if...

[swoll1980]

What if their was another planet in our solar system, the same size, moving at the same speed, and in the same orbit as the Earth, but on the exact opposite side of the Sun? The planet would be in the habitable zone, and would most likely be able to support life(at least at some point) We would never know it was there, because we wouldn't be able to see it.

[linsux]

What if their was another planet in our solar system, the same size, moving at the same speed, and in the same orbit as the Earth, but on the exact opposite side of the Sun? The planet would be in the habitable zone, and would most likely be able to support life(at least at some point) We would never know it was there, because we wouldn't be able to see it.

That post reminds me of when the last two people in a counter strike match are both hiding on the opposite side of the box, waiting for eachother to walk by.

[Marlonsm]

I've never thought about that... But I think we'd already have discovered about it.

[rpwdh]

Doppleganger?

[loell]

heheh, I bet there's another exact post like this posted on their ubuntuforum equivalent on that planet at this exact time! :KS

strange times.. :D

[swoll1980]

I've never thought about that... But I think we'd already have discovered about it.

How? You would have to send a satellite, and be on a specific mission to discover it. What makes you think it has even been thought of? Did you think of it?

[ice60]

What if their was another planet in our solar system, the same size, moving at the same speed, and in the same orbit as the Earth, but on the exact opposite side of the Sun? The planet would be in the habitable zone, and would most likely be able to support life(at least at some point) We would never know it was there, because we wouldn't be able to see it.
if that was the case earth could no longer be classed as a planet, a planet has to have cleared everything within it's orbit. the gravitaional forces would have been noticed too.

[WA_Garrett]

Astronomers would notice. We wouldn't be able to see another earth on the exact opposite end of the sun, but another earth on the other side of the sun would cause slight anomalies in the orbits of other planets in the solar system. If those anomalies occurred, observing them over years and analyzing the data would reveal the second earth.

[ddnev45]

Doppleganger?

Doppelganger (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064519/)

[ice60]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Earth#Scientific_analysis

[Vostrocity]

What makes you think it has even been thought of? Did you think of it?

Lol the fact that someone made a movie about it exactly 4 decades ago. :D

[RD1]

I knew I'd seen this premise done years ago ....

http://www.amazon.com/Journey-Far-Side-Sun-Thinnes/dp/B0016B6ZJW

[Vostrocity]

Oh and a Greek philosopher proposed that idea in the 1st century BC. :D
(According to the link ice60 graciously provided)

[lisati]

I recall seeing a movie on this topic some years ago, possibly the previously-mentioned "Doppelganger"

If it had happened already, it's likely that someone would have noticed some kind of clue.....

[ice60]

a little off topic, but this is a great podcast so it's worth it.

this is the one about Lagrange Points, the position of a hidden earth would be Lagrange Point L3
http://www.astronomycast.com/physics/ep-76-lagrange-points/

Lagrange Points would be pretty screwed up by a hidden earth twin!

[swoll1980]

Doppelganger (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064519/)

I can't believe they actually made a movie about this. I just sat here, and had this dumb idea. I had no idea it was that popular of a concept, and has already had it's credibility annihilated. #-o Well anyways, if I were a true philosopher I would ignore your evidence, cover my ears, and whistle loudly, but since I'm not, I will crawl into a hole, and call myself names.

[Sealbhach]

It would have been detected by now anyway because of its gravitational influence.

.

[RD1]

I can't believe they actually made a movie about this. I just sat here, and had this dumb idea. I had no idea it was that popular of a concept, and has already had it's credibility annihilated. Well anyways, if I were a true philosopher I would ignore your evidence, cover my ears, and whistle loudly, but since I'm not, I will crawl into a hole, and call myself names.

But, what if .... all of the evidence ... the movie ... the philosopher ... none of it existed until you had your idea and made your post :eek:

[swoll1980]

But, what if .... all of the evidence ... the movie ... the philosopher ... none of it existed until you had your idea and made your post :eek:

What if the movie, and the wikipedia article are just part of Earth 2's conspiracy to hide it's existence?

[RD1]

What if the movie, and the wikipedia article are just part of Earth 2's conspiracy to hide it's existence?

What if you are actually from Earth 2 and only posted here to learn if we were aware of your planet's existence?!?!?

[phrostbyte]

It would have been detected by now anyway because of its gravitational influence.

.

Yeah I was to say the same thing. But it's not completely unplausible.\

You know if you use Newton's Law of Gravity to calculate the gravitational influence of planets on one another there is some inconstancies, esp. with Mercury. For awhile astronomers thought there was indeed another undiscovered planet out there but then Einstein came along and "corrected" Newton's law with general relativity. If for some reason we lose general relativity and it's possible if the physicists come with a grand unified theory that this will happen, well......

:p

[qamelian]

I can't believe they actually made a movie about this. I just sat here, and had this dumb idea. I had no idea it was that popular of a concept, and has already had it's credibility annihilated. #-o Well anyways, if I were a true philosopher I would ignore your evidence, cover my ears, and whistle loudly, but since I'm not, I will crawl into a hole, and call myself names.
It's also the basis of a number of comic books from Marvel in the early 1970's. The second Earth was referred to as Counter-Earth. It was the location of a series starring a character named Adam Warlock.

[calrogman]

But, what if .... all of the evidence ... the movie ... the philosopher ... none of it existed until you had your idea and made your post :eek:

Schrödinger's philosopher?

[orlox]

Actually, it would be very simple to detect. No need for gravitational effects or anything.

The earths orbit is slightly elliptical, and as such, it doesnt travel at equal speeds all the time. Ive never done the calculations myself, but as far as I know, this difference in velocity would drive the alter-earth away from the line of sight to the sun enough so we could see it as evening start, just in the same way we see Venus.

[3rdalbum]

What if you are actually from Earth 2 and only posted here to learn if we were aware of your planet's existence?!?!?

What if his earth is actually Earth 1 and we're actually Earth 2?

[lisati]

What if his earth is actually Earth 1 and we're actually Earth 2?

Everyone from Earth 1 and Earth 2 are really a figment of my psychosis imagination and haven't realised it yet?

[Giant Speck]

For convention, let us call the second earth "Terra," and it's star "Sol."

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/SpecKtacle/why.png

For Terra to be permanently blocked from our view by the Sun, the entire star system in which Terra inhabits would have to revolve around our own solar system at the same rate at which the Earth rotates around the Sun. And even then, Terra would have to revolve around Sol at that same rate.

Basically, Terra's star system would have to revolve around our solar system in a year, and Terra itself would have to revolve around Sol in a year. For Sol to be able to revolve around the Sun in the same time it takes our planet to revolve around it, the Sun would have be excessively massive, which would in turn make it impossible for the Earth to exist.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/SpecKtacle/why2.png

If Terra's star system was stationary, or did not move in relation to our own solar system, Terra would eventually become visible at some time during the Earth year.

[zurack]

Impossible, the universe is too random.

[Delever]

For convention, let us call the second earth "Terra," and it's star "Sol."

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/SpecKtacle/why.png

For Terra to be permanently blocked from our view by the Sun, the entire star system in which Terra inhabits would have to revolve around our own solar system at the same rate at which the Earth rotates around the Sun. And even then, Terra would have to revolve around Sol at that same rate.

Basically, Terra's star system would have to revolve around our solar system in a year, and Terra itself would have to revolve around Sol in a year. For Sol to be able to revolve around the Sun in the same time it takes our planet to revolve around it, the Sun would have be excessively massive, which would in turn make it impossible for the Earth to exist.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/SpecKtacle/why2.png

If Terra's star system was stationary, or did not move in relation to our own solar system, Terra would eventually become visible at some time during the Earth year.

Why so complicated? Why another sun?

Anyway, another always invisible earth would be extreme coincidence.

[forrestcupp]

Doppleganger?


Doppelganger (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064519/)

Lol. I can't believe someone just came up with a random thought, and there are people here who already knew about a movie that's all about it.

It doesn't matter what you think or know, there will always be someone here who already knows much more about it than you do.

[swoll1980]

For convention, let us call the second earth "Terra," and it's star "Sol."

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/SpecKtacle/why.png

For Terra to be permanently blocked from our view by the Sun, the entire star system in which Terra inhabits would have to revolve around our own solar system at the same rate at which the Earth rotates around the Sun. And even then, Terra would have to revolve around Sol at that same rate.

Basically, Terra's star system would have to revolve around our solar system in a year, and Terra itself would have to revolve around Sol in a year. For Sol to be able to revolve around the Sun in the same time it takes our planet to revolve around it, the Sun would have be excessively massive, which would in turn make it impossible for the Earth to exist.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk122/SpecKtacle/why2.png

If Terra's star system was stationary, or did not move in relation to our own solar system, Terra would eventually become visible at some time during the Earth year.

No, like this.

[Giant Speck]

No, like this.

Ahhhhh...

I misunderstood. Sorry.