Transmission spectroscopy of exoplanets is a tool to characterize rocky planets and explore their habitability. Using the Earth itself as a proxy, we model the atmospheric cross section as a […]
astro-ph.EP
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
How to Distinguish between Cloudy Mini-Neptunes and Water/Volatile-Dominated Super-Earths
One of the most profound questions about the newly discovered class of low-density super-Earths is whether these exoplanets are predominately H2-dominated mini-Neptunes or volatile-rich worlds with gas envelopes dominated by […]
Posted inHabitable Zones
How close is Earth to a runaway greenhouse?
Recent calculations suggest that the inner edge of the habitable zone around the Sun could be as far out as 0.99 astronomical units (AU)- much closer to the orbit of […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones
Towards the Minimum Inner Edge Distance of the Habitable Zone
We explore the minimum distance from a host star for an exoplanet to be potentially habitable, in order to maximize future chances of finding other habitable worlds. We find that […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
Where to Find Habitable "Earths" in Circumbinary Systems
Hitherto, six P-type planets are found around five binary systems, i.e. Kepler-16 b, 34 b, 35 b, 38 b, 47 b, c, which are all Neptune or Jupiter-like planets. The […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
The Detectability of Habitable Exomoons with Kepler
In this paper, the detectability of habitable exomoons orbiting around giant planets in M-dwarf systems using Transit Timing Variations (TTVs) and Transit Timing Durations (TDVs) with Kepler-class photometry is investigated. […]