Candidate planets in the habitable zones

Robust estimates of planet radius and irradiance require accurate stellar parameters, but most Kepler systems are faint, making spectroscopy difficult and prioritization of targets desirable. The parameters of 2035 host stars were estimated by Bayesian analysis and the probabilities p_HZ_ that 2738 candidate or confirmed planets orbit in the habitable zone were calculated.

Dartmouth Stellar Evolution Program models were compared to photometry from the Kepler Input Catalog, priors for stellar mass, age, metallicity and distance, and planet transit duration. The analysis yielded probability density functions for calculating confidence intervals of planet radius and stellar irradiance, as well as p_HZ_. Sixty-two planets have p_HZ_>0.5 and a most probable stellar irradiance within habitable zone limits.