The Diverse Designs of Planetary Systems: Insights into Host Star Characteristics
The exploration of planetary systems reveals a fascinating diversity in their structures. Building upon previous studies, this paper delves into the connections between our classification system for these planetary architectures and the properties of their host stars.
In particular, we examine how various features of planetary systems are influenced by the mass and metallicity of the stars they orbit. Our findings reinforce earlier observations that gas giants, or jovian planets, tend to be less common around stars that are lower in both mass and metallic content.
Additionally, we uncover some new yet anticipated trends, such as the relationship indicating that the total mass of planets within a system rises alongside the mass of the hosting star. Interestingly, we also observe an upper limit on the mass of planetary systems that aligns well with theoretical predictions regarding the stability of circumstellar disks—regions of dust and gas surrounding a star where planets can form. Moreover, we tentatively point out distinctive patterns among the stars hosting super-puff planets and hot Jupiters, as well as a possible categorization within the hot Jupiter group itself.
Overall, our research indicates that while there are notable correlations, the architectural configurations of planetary systems are not overly reliant on the characteristics of their host stars.
For a quick visual reference, we provide a summary chart from our initial paper categorizing different planetary system designs. Each row represents an individual planetary system, where the horizontal arrangement reflects orbital periods on a logarithmic scale, and the size of each point corresponds to the planet's size. The color coding distinguishes the types of planets: red for Jupiters, yellow for Neptunes, blue for sub-Neptunes, and green for Earth-like planets.
— Alex R. Howe, Juliette C. Becker, Fred C. Adams
This document consists of 17 pages, accompanied by 6 figures and 1 table, and has been accepted by the Astrophysical Journal (AJ).
Subjects: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.E)
Citation: arXiv:2602.03657 astro-ph.EP
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Submission History:
From: Alex Howe
v1: Tue, 3 Feb 2026 15:37:17 UTC (2,052 KB)
Link to the Paper
Additional Context:
Alex is an Explorers Club Fellow and a former NASA Space Station Payload Manager and space biologist. He has experience with Away Teams, journalism, and has a diverse background including being a lapsed climber and a synaesthete. His interests span various cultural references, and he has been involved in significant expeditions, including those to Devon Island and Everest Base Camp.
