Near-ultraviolet (NUV) radiation from dwarf stars plays a critical role in shaping the habitability of planetary systems, yet its long-term evolution across different spectral types remains poorly investigated.
Habitable Zone
Posted inAnalog Studies, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1
Born Dry or Born Wet? A Palette of Water Growth Histories in TRAPPIST-1 Analogs and Compact Planetary Systems
It is still unclear whether exoplanets in compact multiplanet systems such as TRAPPIST-1 are able to accrete large quantities of volatiles, grow to sufficient mass, and maintain robust atmospheres and […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mars, Status Report
Polarized Signatures of Variable Worlds: Modeling Heterogeneous Habitable Earth- and Early Mars-like (Exo)planets
Determining the habitability of terrestrial exoplanets is a complex problem that represents the next major step for the astrophysical community.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Identifying Rocky Planets And Water Worlds Among Sub-Neptune-sized Exoplanets With The Habitable Worlds Observatory
Astronomers are debating whether the plentiful “sub-Neptune” exoplanets — worlds a bit larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune — are predominantly rocky planets, water-rich “ocean worlds,” or gas-enshrouded mini-Neptunes.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
TOI-1743 b, TOI-5799 b, TOI-5799 c and TOI-6223 b: TESS Discovery And Validation Of Four Super-Earth To Neptune-sized Planets Around M dwarfs
We combined TESS and ground-based photometric data to constrain the physical properties of the planets. TOI-6223-b is slightly larger than Neptune (Rp=5.12+0.24−0.25 R⊕) orbiting an early M dwarf in 3.86 […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Diversity In Planetary Architectures From Pebble Accretion: Water Delivery To The Habitable Zone With Pebble Snow
“Pebble snow” describes a planet formation mechanism where icy pebbles in the outer disk reach inner planet embryos as the water ice line evolves inward.
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Hydrocarbon Hazes On Temperate Sub-Neptune K2-18b Supported By Data From The James Webb Space Telescope
K2-18b, a sub-Neptune orbiting in the habitable zone of an M dwarf, has attracted significant interest following observations with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and, more recently, with the James […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1
Webb Looks at Earth-Sized, Habitable-Zone Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e
Scientists are in the midst of observing the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Careful analysis of the results so far presents several potential scenarios for what […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Habitable Zones, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mars, Press Release
Volcanic Emissions Of Reactive Sulfur Gases May Have Shaped Early Mars Climate, Making It More Hospitable To Life
While the early Mars climate remains an open question, a new study suggests its atmosphere may have been hospitable to life due to volcanic activity which emitted sulfur gases that […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Lyman-Alpha Emission From K And M Dwarfs: Intrinsic Profiles, Variability, And Flux In The Habitable Zone
Lyman-α (Lyα) is the most prominent ultraviolet emission line in low-mass stars, playing a crucial role in exoplanet atmospheric photochemistry, heating, and escape.