![Super-Earth occurrence for Kepler (black circles) and K2 (gray circles), TESS data assuming all candidates are real (teal square), and 99.7% confidence intervals to calculate the upper limits for TESS data assuming all candidates are false positives (teal triangles) as a function of metallicity. The [−0.25, −0.5] bin occurrence rates are offset horizontally for visual clarity. The best-fit power-law trend line for the Kepler and K2 data (yellow) is displayed and extrapolated to [Fe/H] = −0.75 showing the 1σ uncertainties (Zink et al. 2023). We show the combined best-fit exponential trend line for Kepler, K2, and TESS (purple; Equation (6)) including the 1σ uncertainties. Each metallicity bin is indicated by gray dashed lines. Within the [−0.75, −1] bin, there is insufficient data to further constrain the super-Earth occurrence rate as a function of metallicity (denoted by the gray hatched region). -- The Astronomical Journal](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Formation-Of-Super-Earths-Proven.png?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
In a new study, astronomers report novel evidence regarding the limits of planet formation, finding that after a certain point, planets larger than Earth have difficulty forming near low-metallicity stars.
metal-poor star
![Super-Earth occurrence for Kepler (black circles) and K2 (gray circles), TESS data assuming all candidates are real (teal square), and 99.7% confidence intervals to calculate the upper limits for TESS data assuming all candidates are false positives (teal triangles) as a function of metallicity. The [-0.25,-0.5] bin occurrence rates are offset horizontally for visual clarity. The best-fit power-law trend line for the Kepler and K2 data (yellow) is displayed and extrapolated to [Fe/H]= -0.75 showing the 1-σ uncertainties (Zink et al. 2023). We show the combined best-fit exponential trend line for Kepler, K2, and TESS (purple) (eq. 6) including the 1-σ uncertainties. Each metallicity bin is indicated by gray dashed lines. Within the [-0.75,-1] bin, there is insufficient data to further constrain the super-Earth occurrence rate as a function of metallicity (denoted by the gray hatched region). -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/The-First-Evidence-of-a-Host.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
The First Evidence of a Host Star Metallicity Cut-off In The Formation of Super-Earth Planets
Planet formation is expected to be severely limited in disks of low metallicity, owing to both the small solid mass reservoir and the low opacity accelerating the disk gas dissipation.
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gas Giants, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
Strong Correlation Between Inner Super-Earths And Outer Gas Giant
The connection between outer gas giants and inner super-Earths reflects their formation and evolutionary histories. Past work exploring this link has suggested a tentative positive correlation between these two populations, […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gas Giants, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
Populating The Milky Way: Characterising Planet Demographics by Combining Galaxy Formation Simulations and Planet Population Synthesis Models
Stellar populations and their distribution differ widely across the Galaxy, which is likely to affect planet demographics.