Stephen Kane
@exocytherean.bsky.social
Planetary Astrophysicist at the University of California, Riverside. I like Venus. A lot. Exoplanets are also kinda cool.
I also show that wrecking ball planets comprise ~30% of the total cold giant planet population, and are lucrative direct imaging targets that contain vast potential for studying planet formation and planet-planet scattering scenarios.
October 29, 2025 at 4:06 AM
I also show that wrecking ball planets comprise ~30% of the total cold giant planet population, and are lucrative direct imaging targets that contain vast potential for studying planet formation and planet-planet scattering scenarios.
For both of these systems, the dynamical influence of the planet on an eccentric orbit renders the Habitable Zone largely nonviable for stable planetary orbits. The systems provide further evidence of how dynamics plays an important role in habitability and target selection.
October 29, 2025 at 4:06 AM
For both of these systems, the dynamical influence of the planet on an eccentric orbit renders the Habitable Zone largely nonviable for stable planetary orbits. The systems provide further evidence of how dynamics plays an important role in habitability and target selection.
Sure, go right ahead!
October 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Sure, go right ahead!
It's hard to say how active the community has been overall. The Planetary Society certainly hosted a great day of action in DC today with lots of support, so that's encouraging!
October 7, 2025 at 5:28 AM
It's hard to say how active the community has been overall. The Planetary Society certainly hosted a great day of action in DC today with lots of support, so that's encouraging!
Ultimately, these results show that dynamical simulations enabled by precision astrometry can now provide results that connect with RV limits, and can teach us a lot about planet formation in binary systems.
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Ultimately, these results show that dynamical simulations enabled by precision astrometry can now provide results that connect with RV limits, and can teach us a lot about planet formation in binary systems.
Even though giant planets are excluded, it's not all bad news. The Habitable Zone of the primary star (0.764–1.803 AU) is perfectly stable, and the RV data allow for undetected planets possibly residing there, inviting more extreme precision RV measurements.
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Even though giant planets are excluded, it's not all bad news. The Habitable Zone of the primary star (0.764–1.803 AU) is perfectly stable, and the RV data allow for undetected planets possibly residing there, inviting more extreme precision RV measurements.
We provided additional RVs and performed injection-recovery tests that exclude giant planets out to ~8 AU from the primary star. The improved binary orbit was used to conduct a dynamical analysis that exclude all planetary orbits down to ... you guessed it ... 8 AU!
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
We provided additional RVs and performed injection-recovery tests that exclude giant planets out to ~8 AU from the primary star. The improved binary orbit was used to conduct a dynamical analysis that exclude all planetary orbits down to ... you guessed it ... 8 AU!
Eta Cassiopeiae is a bright, well-known binary system consisting of two stars in a 470 year orbit. Recent Gaia data has greatly improved the orbit or the binary, despite its long period. The system has also been monitored via precision RVs for over 30 years.
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Eta Cassiopeiae is a bright, well-known binary system consisting of two stars in a 470 year orbit. Recent Gaia data has greatly improved the orbit or the binary, despite its long period. The system has also been monitored via precision RVs for over 30 years.
Wow, thank you Steve! In fairness, I do like that song by Europe! But yeah ... those lyrics ...
September 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Wow, thank you Steve! In fairness, I do like that song by Europe! But yeah ... those lyrics ...
I showed the poem to my oldest daughter and she said "Did AI write that?". Sigh! AI is cool, but I worry that the originality of my creativity will henceforth be doubted.
September 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
I showed the poem to my oldest daughter and she said "Did AI write that?". Sigh! AI is cool, but I worry that the originality of my creativity will henceforth be doubted.
They're not pets. They're cannon fodder for falling Death Star debris. Oh, and they're also cannibals.
September 11, 2025 at 1:21 PM
They're not pets. They're cannon fodder for falling Death Star debris. Oh, and they're also cannibals.
It has a disproportionately large core, likely due to mantle stripping.
September 11, 2025 at 12:58 PM
It has a disproportionately large core, likely due to mantle stripping.