Habitability of Earth-mass Planets and Moons in the Kepler-16 System
Abstract
We demonstrate that habitable Earth-mass planets and moons can exist in the Kepler-16 system, known to host a Saturn-mass planet around a stellar binary, by investigating their orbital stability in the standard and extended habitable zone (HZ). We find that Earth-mass planets in satellite-like (S-type) orbits are possible within the standard HZ in direct vicinity of Kepler-16b, thus constituting habitable exomoons. However, Earth-mass planets cannot exist in planetary-like (P-type) orbits around the two stellar components within the standard HZ. Yet, P-type Earth-mass planets can exist superior to the Saturnian planet in the extended HZ pertaining to considerably enhanced back-warming in the planetary atmosphere if facilitated. We briefly discuss the potential detectability of such habitable Earth-mass moons and planets positioned in satellite and planetary orbits, respectively. The range of inferior and superior P-type orbits in the HZ is between 0.657-0.71 AU and 0.95-1.02 AU, respectively.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/750/1/14
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1201.2302
- Bibcode:
- 2012ApJ...750...14Q
- Keywords:
-
- astrobiology;
- binaries: general;
- celestial mechanics;
- planetary systems;
- stars: individual: Kepler-16;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 table