Tidal Constraints on Planetary Habitability

Details Tidal Constraints on Planetary Habitability Tidal Constraints on Planetary Habitability

Publishing date

2009-12-10

URL

arxiv.org/abs/0912.2095v2

Science

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field

Astrophysics

SubField

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

Additional info

6 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings submitted to "Pathways Towards Habitable Planets" Symposium (eds.: D. Gelino, V. Coude du Fore

Type

Scientific paper

Abstract

We review how tides may impact the habitability of terrestrial-like planets. If such planets form around low-mass stars, then planets in the circumstellar habitable zone will be close enough to their host stars to experience strong tidal forces. We discuss 1) decay of semi-major axis, 2) circularization of eccentric orbits, 3) evolution toward zero obliquity, 4) fixed rotation rates (not necessarily synchronous), and 5) internal heating. We briefly describe these effects using the example of a 0.25 solar mass star with a 10 Earth-mass companion. We suggest that the concept of a habitable zone should be modified to include the effects of tides.

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