Researchers Urge 10-15 Year Hubble UV Survey for HWO Target Stars
Updated
Updated · Astrobiology News · Jun 5
Researchers Urge 10-15 Year Hubble UV Survey for HWO Target Stars
1 articles · Updated · Astrobiology News · Jun 5
Summary
A new white paper calls for a coordinated Hubble program to collect high-resolution far- and near-UV spectra for high-priority Habitable Worlds Observatory target stars before HWO begins exoplanet characterization.
Most candidate stars still lack reliable UV measurements, and the patchy existing data carry calibration limits that could weaken target selection and interpretation of future biosignature signals.
UV radiation is central to atmospheric chemistry: FUV and NUV photons shape ozone stability, photochemical pathways and the formation of prebiotic molecules on potentially habitable worlds.
Hubble is the only observatory expected to deliver the needed UV spectra over the next 10-15 years; the authors say pairing that effort with X-ray observations would better constrain stellar radiation environments.
The proposal aims to make HWO science-ready in the 2030s, filling a gap left by the lack of any comparable UV mission for at least 5-10 years.
As Hubble ages, is our best chance to find habitable worlds at risk before the next mission even launches?
Should Hubble's final years be spent preparing for one mission, or chasing new cosmic discoveries now?
Decade-Long Hubble UV Survey: The Essential Foundation for Habitable Worlds Observatory and Next-Generation Exoplanet Discovery
Overview
The report highlights the urgent need for a decade-long ultraviolet (UV) survey with the Hubble Space Telescope to support the search for habitable worlds. This effort is driven by the necessity to fully understand the high-energy radiation environments of stars targeted by the future Habitable Worlds Observatory. Stellar radiation, especially in the X-ray and UV range, plays a crucial role in shaping planetary atmospheres, which directly affects both the potential for habitability and the ability to detect biosignatures. Current data for key stars are incomplete, making a sustained Hubble UV survey essential for advancing exoplanet science.