The Stellar Side of The Exoplanet Story – Many Worlds
http://www.manyworlds.space/index.php/2016/12/01/the-stellar-side-of-the-exoplanet-story/
When it comes to the study of exoplanets, it’s common knowledge that the host stars don’t get much respect.
Yes, everyone knows that there wouldn’t be exoplanets without stars, and that they serve as the essential background for exoplanet
transit observations and as the wobbling object that allows for radial velocity measurements that lead to new exoplanets discoveries.
But stars in general have been seen and studied for ever, while the first exoplanet was identified only 20-plus years ago.
So it’s inevitable that host stars have generally take a back seat to the compelling newly-found exoplanets that orbit them.
As the field of exoplanet studies moves forward, however, and tries to answer questions about the characteristics of the planets
and their odds of being habitable, the perceived importance of the host stars is on the rise.
The logic: Stars control space weather, and those conditions produce a space climate that is conducive or not so conducive
to habitability and life.