Posted by
NOTLEGALROADKILLYET on Saturday, September 09, 2006 9:38:47 AM
If you like science, or science fiction, which has to be based on science to be interesting and believable, then I'd suggest you pick up the latest Astronomy magazine. It has a number of good articles on planetary system's life zones and galactic life zones. Life as we know it requires liquid water, so it stands to reason that a planet which is too close to its star, or too far away is not likely to have life.
Likewise, it turns out that galaxies have life zones. Planetary systems too close to the center of the galaxy will have their orbits perturbed by close star neighbors, or be too frequently bathed in deadly radiation to harbor life. Stars at the edge of the galaxy lack enough metals (for reasons that have been explained in other issues) to even have rocky planets.
If you have a youngster who has a natural curiosity about science, and you want to encourage that curiosity, I'd suggest both Astronomy and Sky and Telescope subscriptions. If you want to start with one, Astronomy is my first choice. The magazines are so well done that I think you will soon find yourself reading them, too.