False Starts: Potentially Habitable Exoplanets

Post date: Oct 29, 2014 5:57:34 AM

Here is a list of the first claims of potentially habitable exoplanets that later were found to be incorrect. Now we know that Gliese 581 c is too hot, Gliese 581 d and g do not exist, and HD 85012 is too hot. Only Gliese 667C c survives today as the first confirmed potentially habitable exoplanet. Exoplanet detection and characterization is a very hard science. Original press release and paper links included.

• 1. Gliese 581 c (too hot): Astronomers find first habitable Earth-like planet. (24-Apr-2007). Paper

  2. Gliese 581 d (does not exist): Gliese 581: 1 planet might indeed be habitable (13-Dec-2007). Paper

  3. Gliese 581 g (does not exist): Newly discovered planet may be first truly habitable exoplanet (29-Sep-2010). Paper

  4. HD 85512 b (too hot): 50 new exoplanets discovered by HARPS (12-Sep-2011). Paper

  5. Gliese 667C c (so far ok): New super-Earth detected within the habitable zone of a nearby cool star (2-Feb-2012). Paper

This list was created as part of a presentation on the history of the search for habitable worlds.