Habitability of Earth-type Planets and Moons in the Kepler-16 System

TL;DR

This study explores the potential for habitable Earth-like planets and moons in the Kepler-16 system, analyzing their orbital stability and habitability within standard and extended habitable zones.

Contribution

It demonstrates the possible existence of habitable exomoons and planets in the Kepler-16 system, highlighting conditions for orbital stability and habitability in different zones.

Findings

Earth-mass habitable exomoons are possible near Kepler-16b.

Earth-mass planets cannot exist in standard HZ around stellar components.

Extended HZ allows for potential habitable P-type planets beyond Kepler-16b.

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 to 0.71 AU and 0.95 to 1.02 AU, respectively.