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Worldbuilding

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  • $\begingroup$ The "Goldilocks Zone" itself has little to do with the amount of time it takes for a planet to orbit a star. The zone is defined as an area where the temperature is warm enough where the elements required for an atmosphere that can sustain life are in the correct state, but not so hot as to boil the atmosphere off into space. Our sun is relatively small compared to many other stars. It would be in the realm of possibility that in another solar system, the star is significantly large enough where the planet has an orbit which is much larger/longer than ours, but still remain in the correct zone $\endgroup$
    – Jason Hutchinson
    Commented May 17, 2016 at 18:17
  • $\begingroup$ Yes. My statement was referencing the probability that a 4 year orbit will likely be too close to the binary. I could be wrong. $\endgroup$
    – Michael Richardson
    Commented May 17, 2016 at 18:20
  • $\begingroup$ With the elliptical path, it may be possible. Although, the eccentricity of the orbit could not be too high because the planet would travel too far away/close to the star which would mean that the planet could not essentially sustain life. It would be far simpler if the binary star system was not in play. $\endgroup$
    – Jason Hutchinson
    Commented May 17, 2016 at 20:02