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arXiv:1604.04917astro-ph.EP

Long-Term Stability of Planets in the $α$ Centauri System

Billy Quarles, Jack J. Lissauer

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Abstract

We evaluate the extent of the regions within the $α$ Centauri AB star system where small planets are able to orbit for billion-year timescales, and we calculate the positions on the sky plane where planets on stable orbits about either stellar component may appear. We confirm the qualitative results of Wiegert and Holman (AJ 113, 1445, 1997) regarding the approximate size of the regions of stable orbits, which are larger for retrograde orbits relative to the binary than for prograde orbits. Additionally, we find that mean motion resonances with the binary orbit leave an imprint on the limits of orbital stability, and the effects of the Lidov-Kozai mechanism are also readily apparent.

arXiv comments
6 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables, Published in AJ
Journal reference
2016 The Astronomical Journal 151 111
DOI
doi:10.3847/0004-6256/151/5/111
Subjects
astro-ph.EPEarth and Planetary Astrophysics

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  1. Project Blue aims to snap the first picture of an exoplanet in Alpha Centauri 1 comment

    • Project Blue rep says: Simulations suggest that orbits beyond 2.5 A.U. are unstable, but all the habitable zone orbits are stable: For example, see: https://arxiv.org/abs/1604.04917

      devindotcomView on HNParent context

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