M dwarfs are the most abundant stars in the Universe and are hosts of a rich diversity of planetary companions.
astro-ph.EP
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Beyond Mediocrity: How Common is Life?
The probability that life spontaneously emerges in a suitable environment (abiogenesis) is one of the major unknowns in astrobiology. Assessing its value is impeded by the lack of an accepted […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Tidally Heated Exomoons Around ε Eridani b: Observability And Prospects For Characterization
Exomoons are expected to orbit gas giant exoplanets just as moons orbit solar system planets. Tidal heating is present in solar system satellites and it can heat up their interior […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, Gas Giants, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Io, Jupiter, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Jupiter Science Enabled by ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will provide a detailed investigation of the Jovian system in the 2030s, combining a suite of state-of-the-art instruments with an orbital tour tailored to […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Multiplicity Boost Of Transit Signal Classifiers: Validation of 69 New Exoplanets Using The Multiplicity Boost of ExoMiner
Most existing exoplanets are discovered using validation techniques rather than being confirmed by complementary observations.
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Plant Biology, Space Agriculture, Status Report
Photosynthesis Under a Red Sun: Predicting The Absorption Characteristics Of An Extraterrestrial light-harvesting Antenna
Here we discuss the feasibility of photosynthesis on Earth-like rocky planets in close orbit around ultra-cool red dwarf stars.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, SETI & Technosignatures, Status Report
An Interferometric SETI Observation Of Kepler-111 b
The application of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) to the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has been limited to date, despite the technique offering many advantages over traditional single-dish SETI […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1
Interior-atmosphere Modelling To Assess The Observability Of Rocky Planets With JWST
Super-Earths present compositions dominated by refractory materials. However, there is a degeneracy in their interior structure between a planet with no atmosphere and a small Fe content, and a planet […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
A Water-Rich Atmosphere or Stellar Contamination for the Warm Super-Earth GJ~486b from JWST Observations
Planets orbiting M-dwarf stars are prime targets in the search for rocky exoplanet atmospheres. The small size of M dwarfs renders their planets exceptional targets for transmission spectroscopy, facilitating atmospheric […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
Small Planets Around Cool Dwarfs: Enhanced Formation Efficiency of Super-Earths Around M Dwarfs
Current measurements of planet population as a function of stellar mass show three seemingly contradictory signatures: close-in super-Earths are more prevalent around M dwarfs than FGK dwarfs; inner super-Earths are […]