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Updated: May 18, 2026

Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves
Published on: May 10, 2020
The habitable zone and extreme planetary orbits
Stephen R Kane1, Dawn M Gelino
1NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. skane@ipac.caltech.edu
Abstract:
The habitable zone for a given star describes the range of circumstellar distances from the star within which a planet could have liquid water on its surface, which depends upon the stellar properties. Here we describe the development of the habitable zone concept, its application to our own solar system, and its subsequent application to exoplanetary systems. We further apply this to planets in extreme eccentric orbits and show how they may still retain life-bearing properties depending upon the percentage of the total orbit which is spent within the habitable zone. Key Words: Extrasolar planets-Habitable zone-Astrobiology.
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