Constraints on the habitability of extrasolar moons
Ren\'e Heller (1), Rory Barnes (2,3) ((1) Leibniz Institute for, Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP), Germany, (2) University of Washington, Seattle,, USA, (3) NASA Astrobiology Institute, VPL Lead Team, USA)
TL;DR
This paper discusses the potential for detecting and evaluating the habitability of moons orbiting exoplanets using current and upcoming astronomical technology, focusing on factors like illumination, eclipses, and tidal effects.
Contribution
It demonstrates the feasibility of detecting massive exomoons and assesses their habitability using parameters accessible with existing and near-future telescopes.
Findings
Detection of massive exomoons is feasible with Kepler data.
Habitability evaluation can be performed using observable parameters.
Factors like tidal heating and eclipses are key to understanding exomoon habitability.
Abstract
Detections of massive extrasolar moons are shown feasible with the Kepler space telescope. Kepler's findings of about 50 exoplanets in the stellar habitable zone naturally make us wonder about the habitability of their hypothetical moons. Illumination from the planet, eclipses, tidal heating, and tidal locking distinguish remote characterization of exomoons from that of exoplanets. We show how evaluation of an exomoon's habitability is possible based on the parameters accessible by current and near-future technology.
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