Often overlooked, F-type stars could have planets in the habitable zone and harbour life

Amazing stuff! We are not alone! One day we will chat with other civilizations!

"... Our Sun, for example, is a G-type star known as a yellow dwarf. G-type stars have surface temperatures between 5,300 and 6,000 kelvin (K).

F-type stars fall right in the middle of the spectrum. They are larger and hotter than our Sun. They are yellowish white in colour and have surface temperatures of 6,000–7,600K. ..."

"... “F-type star systems are important and intriguing cases when dealing with habitability due to the larger HZs [habitable zone],” ..."

From the abstract:

"F-type star–planet systems represent an intriguing case for habitability studies. Although F-type stars spend considerably less time on the main sequence (MS) than G-, K-, and M-type stars, they still offer a unique set of features, allowing for the principal possibility of exolife. Examples of these features include the increased widths of stellar habitable zones as well as the presence of enhanced UV flux, which in moderation may have added to the origin of life in the Universe. In this study, we pursue a detailed statistical analysis of the currently known planet-hosting F-type stars by making use of the NASA Exoplanet Archive. After disregarding systems with little or no information on the planet(s), we identify 206 systems of interest. We also evaluate whether the stars are on the MS based on various criteria. In one approach, we use the stellar evolution code MESA. Depending on the adopted criterion, about 60–80 stars have been identified as MS stars. In 18 systems, the planet spends at least part of its orbit within the stellar habitable zone. In one case, i.e., HD 111998, known as 38 Vir, the planet is situated in the habitable zone at all times. Our work may serve as a basis for future studies, including studies on the existence of Earth-mass planets in F-type systems, as well as investigations of possibly habitable exomoons hosted by exo-Jupiters, as the lowest-mass habitable zone planet currently identified has a mass estimate of 143 Earth masses."

Often overlooked, F-type stars could have planets in the habitable zone and harbour life "An often-overlooked type of star could have planets in the habitable zone and harbour life, according to new research."

UTA physicists explore possibility of life beyond Earth (original news release)

Statistics and Habitability of F-type Star–Planet Systems (open access)

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