Dynamical Habitability of Planetary Systems
Journal article, 2010

The problem of the stability of planetary systems, a question that concerns only multiplanetary systems that host at least two planets, is discussed. The problem of mean motion resonances is addressed prior to discussion of the dynamical structure of the more than 350 known planets. The difference with regard to our own Solar System with eight planets on low eccentricity is evident in that 60% of the known extrasolar planets have orbits with eccentricity e > 0.2. We theoretically highlight the studies concerning possible terrestrial planets in systems with a Jupiter-like planet. We emphasize that an orbit of a particular nature only will keep a planet within the habitable zone around a host star with respect to the semimajor axis and its eccentricity. In addition, some results are given for individual systems (e.g., Gl777A) with regard to the stability of orbits within habitable zones. We also review what is known about the orbits of planets in double-star systems around only one component ( e. g., gamma Cephei) and around both stars (e.g., eclipsing binaries).

predicting

global dynamics

stability limits

orbits

extra-solar planets

Habitability

apsidal resonance

double stars

planets

motion

zones

Orbital dynamics

Terrestrial exoplanets

terrestrial planets

Author

R. Dvorak

Institut fur Astronomie, Vienna

E. Pilat-Lohinger

Institut fur Astronomie, Vienna

E. Bois

Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur

R. Schwarz

Institut fur Astronomie, Vienna

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)

B. Funk

Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)

Institut fur Astronomie, Vienna

C. Beichman

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

W. Danchi

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

C. Eiroa

Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM)

M. Fridlund

European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESA ESTEC)

T. Henning

Max Planck Society

T. Herbst

Max Planck Society

L. Kaltenegger

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

H. Lammer

Institut fur Weltraumforschung

A. Leger

University of Paris-Sud

René Liseau

Chalmers, Department of Radio and Space Science, Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics

J. Lunine

University of Arizona

F. Paresce

Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (INAF)

A. Penny

STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

A. Quirrenbach

Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory

H. Rottgering

Leiden University

F. Selsis

University of Bordeaux

J. Schneider

Observatoire de Paris-Meudon

D. Stam

Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON)

G. Tinetti

University College London (UCL)

G. J. White

STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Open University

Astrobiology

1531-1074 (ISSN)

Vol. 10 1 33-43

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Roots

Basic sciences

DOI

10.1089/ast.2009.0379

More information

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