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Target star catalogue for Darwin: Nearby Habitable Star Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2006

L. Kaltenegger
Affiliation:
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA02138, USA email:lkaltenegger@cfa.harvard.edu European Space Agency ESTEC, P.O.Box 299, NL-2200AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands email:Malcolm.Fridlund@esa.int, astankov@rssd.esa.int Present address: CfA, 60 Garden st, MS20, Cambridge, MA02138, USA
C. Eiroa
Affiliation:
European Space Agency ESTEC, P.O.Box 299, NL-2200AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands email:Malcolm.Fridlund@esa.int, astankov@rssd.esa.int Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain email:carlos.eiroa@uam.es
A. Stankov
Affiliation:
European Space Agency ESTEC, P.O.Box 299, NL-2200AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands email:Malcolm.Fridlund@esa.int, astankov@rssd.esa.int
M. Fridlund
Affiliation:
European Space Agency ESTEC, P.O.Box 299, NL-2200AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands email:Malcolm.Fridlund@esa.int, astankov@rssd.esa.int
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Abstract

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In order to evaluate and develop mission concepts for a search for Terrestrial Exoplanets, the European Space Agency has prepared a list of potential target systems. In this paper we present the criteria for selecting potential target stars suitable for the search for Earth like planets. We also establish the habitable zone for the stellar systems. Planets found within these zones would be potentially able to host complex life forms. The Darwin target star catalogue was created from the Hipparcos catalogue by examining the information on distance, spectral classification, multiplicity and stellar variability. Additional information on the targets stars including spectral type, metallicity, X-ray luminosity, rotation and Strömgren photometry from several other catalogues are included to determine the target star sample. Design constraints of the mission are added to derive a final target star catalogue of 262 target stars excluding and 447 target stars including M stars for the Darwin mission. We also discuss the completeness of sample for different classes of stars.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
© 2006 International Astronomical Union