🌌 Exoplanet Habitability Explorer

An interactive visualization tool for exploring potentially habitable exoplanets using NASA's Exoplanet Archive data.

🚀 Features

• Habitability Scoring: Custom 0-100 algorithm based on Kopparapu Habitable Zone model
• Interactive Visualization: 36,000+ exoplanets with zoom, hover, and filtering
• Solar System Reference: Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune for comparison
• Scientific Accuracy: Multi-parameter analysis including orbital stability and star similarity

📊 Technology Stack

• Python 3.x
• Pandas - Data manipulation
• NumPy - Mathematical computations
• Plotly - Interactive visualizations

🔧 Installation & Usage

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/sainag7/exoplanet-explorer.git
cd exoplanet-explorer

2. Install dependencies:

pip install pandas numpy plotly

3. Run the visualization:

python main.py

📈 Results

• 17,585 highly habitable planets (score ≥ 85)
• 197 marginally habitable planets (60-84)
• 18,370 unlikely habitable planets (< 60)
• Closest habitable planet: 1.30 parsecs from Earth

🔬 Scientific Methodology

Habitability Scoring Algorithm (0-100 Scale)

Base Scoring - Habitable Zone Position:

• Uses Kopparapu Habitable Zone Model (2013)
• Calculates star luminosity: L_star = (R_star²) × (T_star/5778)⁴
• In HZ: 50-85 points based on proximity to zone center
• Outside HZ: 5-49 points based on distance from boundaries

Multi-Factor Analysis:

• Planet Size (±25 points): Optimal Earth-like radius (0.8-1.4 Earth radii)
• Orbital Stability (±8 points): Circular orbits preferred (eccentricity < 0.05)
• Star Similarity (±8 points): Sun-like temperature (5778K ± 5%)

Classification Categories

• 🌍 "Just Right": Score ≥ 85 (Highly habitable)
• ⚠️ "Borderline": Score 60-84 (Marginally habitable)
• 🔥❄️ "Too Cold/Hot": Score < 60 (Unlikely habitable)

📊 Data Source

NASA Exoplanet Archive - Planetary Systems Composite Data

• 36,152 planets analyzed (after quality filtering)
• Updated with latest confirmed exoplanet discoveries

🎨 Visualization Features

• Interactive scatter plot with logarithmic distance scaling
• Solar system reference planets (Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune)
• Custom hover tooltips with detailed planet parameters
• Color-coded habitability categories
• Professional dark space theme
• Export to HTML functionality

📸 Example Output

The visualization generates an interactive plot showing:

• X-axis: Distance from Earth (parsecs, log scale)
• Y-axis: Goldilocks Habitability Score (0-100)
• Colors: Habitability categories
• Reference: Solar system planets as star markers

🤝 Contributing

Feel free to contribute by:

1. Forking the repository
2. Creating a feature branch
3. Making your improvements
4. Submitting a pull request

📄 License

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.