Extrasolar Planets in the Gliese 581 System - Model Atmospheres and Implications for Habitability

P. von Paris , B. Stracke , A. B. C. Patzer , H. Rauer (1) , J. L. Grenfell (2) , P. Hedelt (3, 4, 5, 6) , M. Godolt , S. Gebauer , D. Kitzmann

1 DLR Institute of Planetary Research
2 ZAA - Zentrum für Astronomie und Astrophysik [Berlin]
3 OASU - Observatoire aquitain des sciences de l'univers
4 UB - Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1
5 LAB - Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux [Pessac]
6 L3AB - Laboratoire d'astrodynamique, d'astrophysique et d'aéronomie de bordeaux

The planets Gliese (GL) 581 c and d were the first objects which merited a detailed study of their potential habitability. The orbital distances of the two planets have recently been revised. We investigated the habitability of GL 581 c and d under these new conditions with a 1-D radiative-convective atmospheric model, varying the surface pressure and atmospheric composition. GL 581 c was found to be uninhabitable for all scenarios considered. GL 581 d was also found to be uninhabitable for low and medium CO2 atmospheres (3.55×10-4 and 5% CO2 vmr, 1 ≤ psurf ≤ 20 bar).

Domaines: Planétologie et astrophysique de la terre [astro-ph.EP]; Planétologie et astrophysique de la terre [astro-ph.EP]

P. von Paris, B. Stracke, A. B. C. Patzer, H. Rauer, J. L. Grenfell, et al.. Extrasolar Planets in the Gliese 581 System - Model Atmospheres and Implications for Habitability. Pathways Towards Habitable Planets, 2009, barcelone, Spain. pp.554. ⟨hal-00542376⟩