The Astrophysics of Planetary Habitability

With a continuously increasing number of discovered exoplanets, research
is shifting from pure detection to characterization of planets. The
rapidly improving quality of observing tools and the success of
space-based observations of exoplanets are driving detection and
characterization toward ever smaller planets; several rocky planets
have already been detected in or near the habitable zones around their
host stars.

Exoplanetary studies are increasingly confronted with questions on
habitable conditions. These conditions are determined by various
astrophysical factors such as stellar high-energy radiation, particle
winds, magnetic fields, accreting small bodies, planetary collisions,
and planetary system dynamics.

This conference addresses astrophysical factors and processes that
are pivotal for the formation, sustainability, and evolution of habitable
conditions on planets from the era of planet formation in disks to the
end of the main sequence life of the host stars.

Key topics include, among others,

• Formation of terrestrial planets in protoplanetary disks,
their interactions with disk material, and the formation
of protoatmospheres
• The role of stellar radiative and particle output for the
evolution of planetary atmospheres
• The importance of stellar and planetary magnetic fields for
habitability
• The physics of erosion processes of planetary atmospheres
• The effects due to dynamical interactions in planetary systems
around single and binary stars, including collisions,
migration, and transport mechanisms.

For more information on the conference, please check our website:

http://habitability.univie.ac.at

A second announcement containing information about online registration,
abstract submission, online hotel room reservation, and invited speakers
will be issued in early fall 2015.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Vienna in February 2016!

Manuel Guedel and Rudolf Dvorak
On behalf of the Scientific and Local Organizing Committees

SOC: Eric Chassefière (F), Manuel Güdel (A, chair), Nader Haghighipour
(USA), Wilhelm Kley (D), Helmut Lammer (A, co-chair), Douglas Lin
(USA), Rosemary Mardling (AU), Elke Pilat-Lohinger (A, co-chair),
Heike Rauer (D), Ansgar Reiners (D), Klaus Strassmeier (D)
LOC: David Bancelin, Rudolf Dvorak (chair), Bibiana Fichtinger, Colin
Johnstone, Theresa Lüftinger (co-chair), Thomas Maindl, Daniel
Steiner