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Finding an Exoplanet System with Specific Properties

-- Joe | March 4, 2021

Question:

I am writing a novel and am looking for a real exoplanet to reference in the book that meets the following criteria:

– Within 4-14 light years from Earth
– Lies within the habitable zone of its star
– Orbits a red star
– Has a gravitation much higher than Earth – as much as 25 to 50 times that of Earth

Anything fit the bill?

-- Joe

Answer:

There are a number of online databases which list the properties of exoplanetary systems. One such database is the Open Exoplanet Catalog. I have performed a search of that catalog limiting the search to confirmed exoplanets that orbit within their host star’s habitable zone. The resultant list can then be sorted by distance (in parsecs, where 1 parsec is equal to about 3.26 light years). Since stars that appear red in color tend to be stars of spectral types K through M, looking at the resultant list indicates that there are a couple of very massive (several hundred Earth mass) exoplanets which meet your criteria. Gleise 876b and 876c appear to meet your criteria, the properties for which you can get from the link provided above.

-- Jeff Mangum

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