They also incorporated data from the Gaia telescope, which provided distance measurements for numerous stars in the galaxy. To conduct their analysis, the researchers utilized data from NASA’s Kepler telescope, renowned for observing exoplanets during their transits. In contrast, two-thirds of the planets around these ubiquitous small stars were found to be susceptible to extreme tidal forces, potentially sterilizing them. The study unveiled a correlation between star systems hosting multiple planets and the likelihood of maintaining circular orbits, which are conducive to supporting liquid water.

Eccentricity refers to the ovalness of an orbit, with circular orbits being more favorable for sustaining liquid water. Led by Sheila Sagear, a doctoral student at the University of Florida, and astronomy professor Sarah Ballard, the study was published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.īy focusing on more than 150 planets orbiting M dwarf stars, which have similar sizes to Jupiter, the researchers investigated the eccentricity of their orbits.

Correlation between circular orbits and habitable planets This remarkable finding indicates that hundreds of millions of these celestial bodies, representing about one-third of the total, exist within the highly sought-after “Goldilocks zone” – an optimal region for supporting life. Image © codesign | iStock In a groundbreaking analysis utilizing the latest telescope observations, astronomers from the University of Florida have revealed that one-third of all common planets in our galaxy may be classed as ‘hospitable planets’

Goldilocks galaxy