K-type main-sequence stars, also known as orange dwarfs, may be candidates for supporting extraterrestrial life. These stars are known as "Goldilocks stars" as they emit enough radiation in the non-UV ray spectrum[1] to provide a temperature that allows liquid water to exist on the surface of a planet; they also remain stable in the main sequence longer than the Sun by burning their hydrogen slower,[2] allowing more time for life to form on a planet around a K-type main-sequence star.[3] The planet's habitable zone, ranging from 0.1–0.4 to 0.3–1.3 astronomical units (AU),[4][better source needed] depending on the size of the star, is often far enough from the star so as not to be tidally locked to the star, and to have a sufficiently low solar flare activity not to be lethal to life. In comparison, red dwarf stars have too much solar activity and quickly tidally lock the planets in their habitable zones, making them less suitable for life. The odds of complex life arising may be better on planets around K-type main-sequence stars than around Sun-like stars, given the suitable temperature and extra time available for it to evolve.[5] Some planets around K-type main-sequence stars are potential candidates for extraterrestrial life.[2]
Habitable zone
A K-type star's habitable zone approximately ranges between 0.1–0.4 to 0.3–1.3 AU from the star. Here, exoplanets will receive only a relatively small amount of ultraviolet radiation, especially so towards the outer edge. This is favorable to support life, as it means that there is enough radiated energy to allow liquid water to exist on the surface, but not so much, especially ionizing radiation, as to destroy life.[4]
The habitable zone is also very stable, lasting for most of the K-type main-sequence star's main sequence phase and with little instability of luminosity during that phase.[6]
Despite K-stars' lower total UV output, in order for their planets to have habitable temperatures, they must orbit much nearer to their K-star hosts, offsetting or reversing any advantage of a lower total UV output. There is also growing evidence that K-type dwarf stars emit dangerously high levels of X-rays and far ultraviolet (FUV) radiation for considerably longer into their early main sequence phase than do either heavier G-type stars or lighter early M-type dwarf stars.[7] This prolonged radiation saturation period may sterilise, destroy the atmospheres of, or at least delay the emergence of life for Earth-like planets orbiting inside the habitable zones around K-type dwarf stars.[7][8]
Potentially habitable planets
The super-EarthHD 40307 g around the K2.5V star HD 40307 orbits in the circumstellar habitable zone (CHZ), although it has a reasonably elliptical orbit (e=0.22). There may be many more, and the Kepler space telescope (now retired) was one of the main sources of information of these exoplanets.[9]Kepler-62 and Kepler-442 are examples of discoveries by Kepler of systems consisting of a K-type dwarf with potentially habitable planets orbiting it.
HD 85512 b was originally thought to be a super-Earth with habitability potential orbiting a K-type main-sequence star,[10][11] but it is now considered to be a false positive detection,[12] an artifact caused by stellar rotation.[13]
