Extrasolar Planets: A Galactic Perspective

Abstract

The host stars of extrasolar planets tend to be metal-rich. We have examined the data for these stars for evidence of trends in other galactic parameters, without success. However, several ESP hosts are likely to be members of the thick disk population, indicating that planet formation has occurred throughout the full lifetime of the Galactic disk. We briefly consider the radial metallicity gradient and age-metallicity relation of the Galactic disk, and complete a back-of-the envelope estimate of the likely number of solar-type stars with planetary companions with 6 < R < 10 kpc.