Exoplanets & habitability · r = √(L / L☉) (Earth-flux orbit)
Equal-Insolation Distance
The orbital distance at which a planet receives the same starlight per square metre as Earth does from the Sun — a first anchor for the habitable zone. It scales with the square root of the star's luminosity.
Earth-flux distance1AU
Formula: r = √(L / L☉) (Earth-flux orbit)
Worked example
With the default inputs, equal-insolation distance evaluates to 1 AU — 1 L☉ → 1 AU. The validator recomputes this against the known value on every build, so the formula is checked, not asserted.
Highlights
- ›1 L☉ → 1 AU
The physics behind it
Knowledge connections
- Associated withHabitable zone
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.