# The Direct Mid-Infrared Detectability of Habitable-zone Exoplanets Around Nearby Stars

**Authors:** Zach Werber, Kevin Wagner, Daniel Apai  
**arXiv:** [2212.06993](https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.06993)  
**Date:** 2022-12-14  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/2212.06993v1/

## Key points

- The study focuses on detecting exoplanets within the habitable zones of nearby stars using ground-based telescopes.
- The authors establish a theoretical framework for detecting Earth-sized to super-Jovian-mass exoplanets in the mid-infrared based on available atmospheric and evolutionary models.
- 71 stars are selected, including 34 BA type stars and 37 FGK type stars, with reliable age constraints from literature sources.
- Targets are prioritized based on a parametric model of a planet's effective temperature to predict the most likely planets to be detectable with current 8-meter telescopes and with a 39-m ELT with up to 100 hours of observation per star.
- Contrast predictions for nine planetary masses ranging from one Earth mass to ten Jupiter masses are generated using radiative equilibrium and internal heat generated by contraction.
- Evolutionary models of Linder et al. (2019) are utilized to provide the effective temperatures, radii, and surface gravities of each planet.
- Observation times needed for detecting habitable-zone exoplanets spanning the range of very nearby temperate Earth-sized planets to more distant young giant planets are recommended.
- Ideal initial targets for current telescopes and upcoming Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) are suggested.
- A database used in this study is available at https://github.com/astronexus/HYG-Database which provides valuable insights into identifying promising candidates for direct imaging observations over the next decade that could potentially lead to discovering new habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

## Summary

This study focuses on the direct detectability of exoplanets within the habitable zones of nearby stars using ground-based telescopes. The authors establish a theoretical framework for detecting Earth-sized to super-Jovian-mass exoplanets in the mid-infrared based on available atmospheric and evolutionary models. They select 71 stars, including 34 BA type stars and 37 FGK type stars, with reliable age constraints from literature sources. Prioritizing targets based on a parametric model of a planet's effective temperature, they predict the most likely planets to be detectable with current 8-meter telescopes and with a 39-m ELT with up to 100 hours of observation per star. The authors generate contrast predictions for nine planetary masses ranging from one Earth mass to ten Jupiter masses using radiative equilibrium and internal heat generated by contraction. They utilize the evolutionary models of Linder et al. (2019) to provide the effective temperatures, radii, and surface gravities of each planet. The study further recommends observation times needed for detecting habitable-zone exoplanets spanning the range of very nearby temperate Earth-sized planets to more distant young giant planets. It also suggests ideal initial targets for current telescopes and upcoming Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs). A database used in this study is available at https://github.com/astronexus/HYG-Database which provides valuable insights into identifying promising candidates for direct imaging observations over the next decade that could potentially lead to discovering new habitable worlds beyond our solar system.