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Characterization of stellar activity using transits and its impact on habitability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2020

Raissa Estrela
Affiliation:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr, Pasadena, CA 91109 email: [email protected] Center for Radioastronomy and Astrophysics Mackenzie, Mackenzie Presbyterian University Rua da Consolacao 896, Sao Paulo, SP 01302-907, Brazil email: [email protected]
Adriana Valio
Affiliation:
Center for Radioastronomy and Astrophysics Mackenzie, Mackenzie Presbyterian University Rua da Consolacao 896, Sao Paulo, SP 01302-907, Brazil email: [email protected]
Sourav Palit
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Powai, Mumbai400076
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Abstract

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Stellar magnetic field is the driver of activity in stars and can trigger spots, energetic flares, coronal plasma ejections and ionized winds. These phenomena play a crucial role in understanding the internal mechanisms of the star, but can also have potential effects in orbiting planets. During the transit of a planet, spots can be occulted producing features imprinted in the transit light curve. Here, we modelled these features to characterize the physical properties of the spots (radius, intensity, and location). In addition, we monitor spots signatures on multiple transits to estimate magnetic cycles length of Kepler stars. Flares have also been observed during transits in active stars. We derive the properties of the flares and analyse their UV impact on possible living organisms in planets orbiting in the habitable zone.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
© International Astronomical Union 2020

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