When humanity makes the next mass exodus to an alien world, Astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) speculate that red dwarf systems may house worlds that have evolved flora and fauna. This might be similar to the setting in Avatar, but minus the big-blue natives though.
The reason for choosing a red dwarf to look for a future homeworld is that it has a 6% chance of having earth-sized compatible exoplanets are capable of supporting life. There are many red dwarfs scattered in the milky way galaxy (MKG), which is in our own backyard, so to speak. It will take about 13-light years of travel to get there, but for now, humanity is earth-bound until means to travel are devised.
One of the assumptions about exoplanets to transplant humanity is that it will be farther than imagined. But, constant revisions in data and discoveries are piling up in favor of star systems nearer than expected. Courtney Dressing of the CfA made the observation about the finding compiled by scientists working on the subject.
By comparison, our sunburns hotter than a red dwarf. Another is the size is not as big and with a brightness that is one-thousandth only. It takes immensely powerful space and terrestrial telescopes to see a red-dwarf, fine-tuned to see in the murk of outer space.
Suns that burn bright are not the only locations to spot exoplanets, red dwarfs are other places to look for exoplanets that are similar to the earth too. Statistically, red dwarfs are three of the four-star types that populate the milky way and are numbered in 75 billion chances to find a place for us. Astronomers will be looking for earth-like twins by looking for larger planets that block more parts of the star's solar disk. This means a closer orbit for an exoplanet and transit will be on the earth-side.
Before previous assumptions about the size and temperature of red dwarfs, it seems that they are not as big or cool. Planets orbiting a red dwarf will have a tighter habitable zone than other systems. When a red dwarf is usually seen with any exoplanet in transit, the planet will be as big visually because the star makes it look smaller.
A total of 95 exoplanets are in orbit around a red dwarf, with 60% of them as big as Neptune. Not all were classified as earth type ex worlds. Only three fit the slot as truly earth-compatible, and figures at a 6% chance a red dwarf will have the planet for habitation. This is a game-changer and implies that life can be found in other exoplanets, not like previously thought.
Eyes in the sky and earth will be scanning for exoplanets as prospective homeworlds that will point them out. Moving in will not be the same because it will be locked to the gravity of the red dwarf, which is not a great concern. Exoplanets will have a suitable water-rich atmosphere, and oceans are present as well. One plus for the red dwarf system is they live longer than our sun. This gives rise to the possibility that mankind will deal with more advanced flora and fauna.
Read: Earth-like Planets May Have Older and More Evolved Life
