What are the Critical Factors that Affect the Habitability of Celestial Bodies in Our Solar System?

Abstract

The study of habitability on planets and celestial bodies apart from Earth has gathered increased interest over the last few decades due to grand technological advancements. Space agencies like NASA are spending billions of dollars on spacecraft, probes, and satellites for this specific purpose, but as of now, no one knows what different (and possibly quite similar) species reside in our solar system, and where they live (moons, planets). However, a planet/moon being habitable to life is not that easy, and there are hundreds of factors that can make a celestial body habitable. This paper will cover a few of the several factors: existence of liquid water, atmospheric composition, chemical composition of the planet's surface, and biofuel, along with linking these factors to different celestial bodies in our solar system, specifically focusing on Mars, Venus, Europa, and Titan.