The Anglo-Australian planet search. XXI. A gas-giant planet in a one year orbit and the habitability of gas-giant satellites
Article
Article Title | The Anglo-Australian planet search. XXI. A gas-giant planet in a one year orbit and the habitability of gas-giant satellites |
---|---|
ERA Journal ID | 45091 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Tinney, C. G. (Author), Wittenmyer, Robert A. (Author), Butler, R. Paul (Author), Jones, Hugh R. A. (Author), O'Toole, Simon J. (Author), Bailey, Jeremy A. (Author), Carter, Brad D. (Author) and Horner, J. (Author) |
Journal Title | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
Journal Citation | 732 (1), pp. 1-11 |
Article Number | 31 |
Number of Pages | 11 |
Year | 2011 |
Publisher | IOP Publishing |
Place of Publication | United Kingdom |
ISSN | 2041-8205 |
2041-8213 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/732/1/31 |
Web Address (URL) | https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/732/1/31 |
Abstract | We have detected the Doppler signature of a gas-giant exoplanet orbiting the star HD 38283, in an eccentric orbit with a period of almost exactly one year (P = 363.2 ± 1.6 d, m sin i = 0.34 ± 0.02 M Jup, e = 0.41 ± 0.16). The detection of a planet with period very close to one year critically relied on year-round observation of this circumpolar star. Discovering a planet in a 1 AU orbit around a G dwarf star has prompted us to look more closely at the question of the habitability of the satellites of such planets. Regular satellites orbit all the giant planets in our solar system, suggesting that their formation is a natural by-product of the planet formation process. There is no reason for exomoon formation not to be similarly likely in exoplanetary systems. Moreover, our current understanding of that formation process does not preclude satellite formation in systems where gas giants undergo migration from their formation locations into the terrestrial planet habitable zone. Indeed, regular satellite formation and Type II migration are both linked to the clearing of a gap in the protoplanetary disk by a planet, and so may be inextricably linked. Migration would also multiply the chances of capturing both irregular satellites and Trojan companions sufficiently massive to be habitable. The habitability of such exomoons and exo-Trojans will critically depend on their mass, whether or not they host a magnetosphere, and (for the exomoon case) their orbital radius around the host exoplanet. |
Keywords | astrobiology; planetary systems; planets and satellites: dynamical evolution and stability; planets and satellites: formation; planets and satellites: general; stars: individual (HD 38283) |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 510109. Stellar astronomy and planetary systems |
519999. Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified | |
510101. Astrobiology | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | University of New South Wales |
Carnegie Institution of Washington, United States | |
University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom | |
Anglo-Australian Observatory, Australia | |
Department of Biological and Physical Sciences | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1186/the-anglo-australian-planet-search-xxi-a-gas-giant-planet-in-a-one-year-orbit-and-the-habitability-of-gas-giant-satellites
Download files
2031
total views327
total downloads2
views this month1
downloads this month