Multiple star system near Sun: better choices
I'm looking for a star system between 15 and 36 ly from Sun with these characteristics:
- composed by 2 or more stars
- one of the stars should be a late G/ K type star (it doesn't matter for the other/s)
- both should have at least 2.5 AUs of stability for planets
- maximum distance beetween stars: less than 150/200 AUs
If it's possible (but this is a plus), the stars should be not very young and have a few known/colonisable stars near them. If a planet orbiting them would a circumbinary orbit it is also ok. A brown dwarf doesn't count as star.
I want to put 1 or 2 planet(s) in the habitable zone of one star. Which would be the best star systems with these characteristics from 15 to 36 light years from Sun?
A good answer should include at least 2 star systems, the reasons why you've chosen them and the source of the data.
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1 answer
Xi Boötis
Basic statistics:
- Distance from the Solar System: 22 light-years
- Spectral types: G8 Ve and K4 Ve
- Masses: 0.86 and 0.70 solar masses
- Semi-major axis: 33.14 AU
- Maximum semi-major axis for planetary orbit around Xi Boötis A: 3.8 AU
- Maximum semi-major axis for planetary orbit around Xi Boötis B: 3.5 AU
- Minimum semi-major axis for circumbinary planetary orbit: 108 AU
- Age: 200 million years
I chose Xi Boötis because it is really one of the only candidates that match nearly all the criteria. Both stars are of the correct spectral type. Additionally, it admits orbits with semi-major axes in the ranges you gave.
Sources:
Fernandes et al. (1998)
Jaime et al. (2012)
Mamajek & Hillenbrand (2008)
Wielen (1962)
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