Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of α Centauri

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21176-6
• Publication Date: 2021-02-10T22:27:28Z
• Authors: K. Wagner; A. Boehle; P. Pathak; M. Kasper; R. Arsenault; G. Jakob; U. Käufl; S. Leveratto; A.-L. Maire; E. Pantin; R. Siebenmorgen; G. Zins; O. Absil; N. Ageorges; D. Apai; A. Carlotti; É. Choquet; C. Delacroix; K. Dohlen; P. Duhoux; P. Forsberg; E. Fuenteseca; S. Gutruf; O. Guyon; E. Huby; D. Kampf; M. Karlsson; P. Kervella; J.-P. Kirchbauer; P. Klupar; J. Kolb; D. Mawet; M. N’Diaye; G. Orban de Xivry; S. P. Quanz; A. Reutlinger; G. Ruane; M. Riquelme; C. Soenke; M. Sterzik; A. Vigan; T. de Zeeuw
• Keywords: Planetary habitability

Giant exoplanets on wide orbits have been directly imaged around young stars. If the thermal background in mid-infrared can be mitigated, then with lower masses also imaged. Here we present a ground-based observing approach that enables imaging low-mass temperate nearby stars, and particular within closest stellar system, α Centauri. Based 75-80% of best quality images from 100 h cumulative observations, demonstrate sensitivity to warm sub-Neptune-sized planets throughout much habitable zone Centauri A. This is an order magnitude more sensitive than state-of-the-art exoplanet mass detection limits. We discuss possible or exozodiacal disk However, instrumental artifact unknown origin cannot ruled out. These results feasibility rocky habitable-zone current upcoming telescopes.