Determining habitability: which exoEarths should we search for life?
Article
Article Title | Determining habitability: which exoEarths should we search for life? |
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ERA Journal ID | 30194 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Horner, J. (Author) and Jones, B. W. (Author) |
Journal Title | International Journal of Astrobiology |
Journal Citation | 9 (4), pp. 273-291 |
Number of Pages | 19 |
Year | 2010 |
Place of Publication | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
ISSN | 1473-5504 |
1475-3006 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550410000261 |
Abstract | Within the next few years, the first Earth-mass planets will be discovered around other stars. Some of those worlds will certainly lie within the classical 'habitable zone' of their parent stars, and we will quickly move from knowing of no exoEarths to knowing many. For the first time, we will be in a position to carry out a detailed search for the first evidence of life beyond our Solar System. However, such observations will be hugely taxing and time consuming to perform, and it is almost certain that far more potentially habitable worlds will be known than it is possible to study. It is therefore important to catalogue and consider the various effects that make a promising planet more or less suitable for the development of life. In this work, we review the various planetary, dynamical and stellar influences that could influence the habitability of exoEarths. The various influences must be taken in concert when we attempt to decide where to focus our first detailed search for life. While there is no guarantee that any given planet will be inhabited, it is vitally important to ensure that we focus our time and effort on those planets most likely to yield a positive result. |
Keywords | life; exoplanets; planets; water; tectonics; impacts; comets; asteroids; climate |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 510109. Stellar astronomy and planetary systems |
519999. Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified | |
510104. Galactic astronomy | |
510903. Mesospheric, thermospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric physics | |
510101. Astrobiology | |
Public Notes | © 2010 Cambridge University Press. This publication is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for the purposes of study, research, or review, but is subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source. |
Byline Affiliations | Durham University, United Kingdom |
Open University, United Kingdom | |
Event | 4th Biennial Astrobiology Society of Britain Conference (ASB4): Building Habitable Worlds |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
Event Details | 4th Biennial Astrobiology Society of Britain Conference (ASB4): Building Habitable Worlds Event Date 07 to end of 09 Apr 2010 Event Location London, United Kingdom |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q27z1/determining-habitability-which-exoearths-should-we-search-for-life
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