Habitability of exoplanetary systems with planets observed in transit

TL;DR

This study assesses the current and past habitability of 79 transiting exoplanetary systems using stellar properties and habitable zone calculations, providing a method applicable to future discoveries.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to evaluate habitability in exoplanetary systems based on stellar data and orbital dynamics, applicable to future exoplanet discoveries.

Findings

Only 2 of 79 systems lack safe zones for Earth-like planets.

Approximately 28 systems could sustain habitability for 1.7 Gyr.

Migration of giant planets could negate habitability in all known systems.

Abstract

(Shortened) We have used the measured properties of the stars in the 79 exoplanetary systems with one or more planets that have been observed in transit, to estimate each system's present habitability. The measured stellar properties have been used to determine the present location of the classical habitable zone (HZ). To establish habitability we use the estimated distances from the giant planet(s) within which an Earth-like planet would be inside the gravitational reach of the giant. Of the 79 transiting systems known in April 2010, only 2 do not offer safe havens to Earth-like planets in the HZ, and thus could not support life today. We have also estimated whether habitability is possible for 1.7 Gyr into the past i.e. 0.7 Gyr for a heavy bombardment, plus 1.0 Gyr for life to emerge and thus be present today. We find that, for the best estimate of each stellar age, an additional 28 systems do not offer such sustained habitability. If we reduce 1.7 Gyr to 1.0 Gyr this number falls to 22. However, if giant planets orbiting closer to the star than the inner boundary of the HZ, have got there by migration through the HZ, and if this ruled out the subsequent formation of Earth-like planets, then, of course, none of the presently known transiting exoplanetary systems offers habitability. Fortunately, this bleak conclusion could well be wrong. As well as obtaining results on the 79 transiting systems, this paper demonstrates a method for determining the habitability of the cornucopia of such systems that will surely be discovered over the next few years.