Pandora is probably tidally locked, but the kind of tidal forces responsible for prolonged geological activity for moons like Io also require special resonance orbits with other satellites. Europa and Ganymede have a 2:1 and 4:1 orbital resonance with Io respectively, and these resonances maintain Io's orbital eccentricity. Without this elegant dance of moons, the same tidal forces that physically distort Io would also circularize its orbit.

Interestingly, though, Pandora is also reliably depicted as being fairly close to Polyphemus (a planet that is itself slightly less massive than Jupiter). While there doesn't appear to be a canon figure available on the internet in regards to its orbital period (and, thus, lengths of its days), there is no doubt in my mind that James Cameron has figures to this end for use by the production team.

It's been cloudy ALL WEEK where I live. No planets for me, I guess, I'll have to look up some nice pictures. But otherwise, you're absolutely right!

>opens up the solar system for cheap.

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Why would the mountains be floating rather than just drifting toward the magnetic pole?

Kudos to the whole space-x team that actually does in the hard and real work to have made this possible. You are all an inspiration and we all know it's your hard work, knowledge and audacity that has made space-x a positive for so many of us.

In the case of a moon orbiting a much more massive body, it's also possible that the gravitational tide of the larger body keeps the core molten. This would only work for so long as Pandora had rotational momentum of course, and over time the body would become tidally locked with the same side always facing its larger partner.

Isn’t there an alternative theory that a human-like body plan is the best design for an intelligent species and therefore we should expect to see more aliens like us out there?

Hello u/lemonny3663, your submission "Could we find a Pandora-like planet in real life?" has been removed from r/space because:

• Such questions should be asked in the "All space questions" thread stickied at the top of the sub.

Please read the rules in the sidebar and check r/space for duplicate submissions before posting. If you have any questions about this removal please message the r/space moderators. Thank you.

We could just make it from stuff on earth. Combustion creates water.

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Put content in the title. "question" is not content.

And how would we "run out of water"? What does that even mean? Where did it go?

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Took me like 30 seconds to realize the title was talking about Avatar and not Borderlands. My first thought was “a world where like everything is out to kill you? Yeah, maybe.” Then I realized they meant Avatar and I’m pretty sure we’re more likely to find murder world.

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Wait.. you like sex? And money?

We should hang out