K Type Stars Are the Best Ones for Goldilocks Zones

Image Courtesy of NASA
​In the Milky Way Galaxy, there are 3 types of stars that are best suited to contain planets within the "Goldilocks Zones".  These are the zones around a star that are not too hot, not too cold but are just right to contain planets capable of retaining liquid water, an atmosphere and thus can potentially contain life as we know it.  ​

Our Sun is an G-type Star with a life-span of about 10 billion years.  It is considered to be the hottest of the 3 types that can contain life in the Goldilocks zone.   K-type stars have a lifespan of about 40 Billion years and outnumber stars like our Sun by 25 times in our galaxy.  The 3rd type of Star that is most abundant in our galaxy is the M-type Star.  This star type is about 400 times more numerous than our Sun, and has a lifespan of about 100 Billion years!  However, M-type Stars emit x-ray and UV- radiation at levels that are too high for life to survive on any planets within the habitable zone so they are not considered the best candidates for life.

As it turns out, it is the K-type Star that is the most likely to contain planets with potential for life.  These K-Dwarf Stars are 25 times more numerous than our Sun (in our Galaxy) and have a 40 billion year life span.  They emit x-ray and UV-radiation that is tolerable by nearby planets so all these factors make them the best possible candidates for habitable planets.  

Our Sun is about half way through its life cycle of 10 billion years and our Earth will not likely be habitable in about 1-2 billion years.  Therefore K-type Star systems are the best systems to look for habitable worlds.  The human race will need to find another habitable world and develop the technology to get there in the next billion years!! (assuming humans survive that long).

Maddalena Environmental Inc.
Al Maddalena

​Check out the latest article from NASA

https://go.nasa.gov/3bP9oQA