Cover Picture: Astron. Nachr. 2/2025

Abstract

Simulated differential transmission spectra of various “superhabitable” planet scenarios. For comparison, the predicted spectra of Kepler-62e (a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone of a K dwarf) and the modern Earth around the Sun are shown as well. Spectral features are displayed in ppm relative to each planet's baseline transit depth, revealing individual molecular signatures, including O₂, O₃, CH₄, H₂O, N₂O, CO₂, CH₃Cl, and CO. Solid gray lines represent planets receiving an incident stellar flux of 0.8 solar constants (S0 = 1366 W/m²), positioned between the inner edge and center of their respective host star's habitable zone, while dashed lines represent the same planets at 0.6 S0, aligned with the center of the habitable zone. The prospects of observing possible biosignatures in the atmospheres of transiting “superhabitable” exoplanets with the James Webb Space Telescope are discussed in the related paper by I. Vilović et al. published in this issue e20240081.