Optimal Target Stars in the Search for Life

Abstract

The selection of optimal targets in the search for life represents a highly important strategic issue. In this Letter, we evaluate the benefits of searching for life around a potentially habitable planet orbiting a star of arbitrary mass relative to a similar planet around a Sun-like star. If recent physical arguments implying that the habitability of planets orbiting low-mass stars is selectively suppressed are correct, we find that planets around solar-type stars may represent the optimal targets.

Published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters; 6 pages, 3 figures

References in corpus (13)

• Extreme Water Loss and Abiotic O${}_2$ Buildup On Planets Throughout the Habitable Zones of M Dwarfs
• How to Characterize Habitable Worlds and Signs of Life
• Is Proxima Centauri b habitable? -- A study of atmospheric loss
• The Space Weather of Proxima Centauri b
• The Threatening Environment of the TRAPPIST-1 Planets
• Risks for life on habitable planets from superflares of their host stars
• A Statistical Comparative Planetology Approach to the Hunt for Habitable Exoplanets and Life Beyond the Solar System
• The dehydration of water worlds via atmospheric losses
• Relative Likelihood for Life as a Function of Cosmic Time
• Subsurface Exolife
• The language of exoplanet ranking metrics needs to change
• Visions of Human Futures in Space and SETI
• Reduced Diversity of Life Around Proxima Centauri and TRAPPIST-1

Cited by in corpus (11)

• Physical constraints for the evolution of life on exoplanets
• Relative Likelihood of Success in the Searches for Primitive versus Intelligent Extraterrestrial Life
• Photosynthesis on habitable planets around low-mass stars
• Is Life Most Likely Around Sun-like Stars?
• Revised Exoplanet Radii and Habitability Using Gaia Data Release 2
• Role of stellar physics in regulating the critical steps for life
• Quantifying the Influence of Jupiter on the Earth's Orbital Cycles
• Photosynthesis on Exoplanets and Exomoons from Reflected Light
• Greater climate sensitivity and variability on TRAPPIST-1e than Earth
• Characteristics of aquatic biospheres on temperate planets around Sun-like stars and M-dwarfs
• Beyond Mediocrity: How Common is Life?