TRAPPIST-1 Archives

Brightness temperature spectra for the dayside hemisphere of selected modeled environments for TRAPPIST-1 c with JWST with points corresponding to the model spectra convolved to the F1500W filter band, over the full-wide half-max of the band’s wavelength extent (horizontal error bars). We also show the data point measured by Zieba et al. (2023), along with lines corresponding to blackbody temperatures for day-side with zero heat redistribution (dark grey dashed) and for a blackbody with perfect heat redistribution (light gray dashed). The best fit atmospheres are the 0.1 bar, O2-dominated atmospheres, at 0.5–1.0σ from the measured eclipse depth. -- astro-ph.EP

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1

Potential Atmospheric Compositions of TRAPPIST-1 c constrained by JWST/MIRI Observations At 15 μm

by Keith CowingAugust 14, 2023August 14, 2023

The first JWST observations of TRAPPIST-1 c showed a secondary eclipse depth of 421+/-94 ppm at 15 um, which is consistent with a bare rock surface or a thin, O2-dominated, […]

Some calculated properties from the slowing down of photoelectrons. Top: Fraction of the photoelectron initial energy E0 that is transferred to the gas in elastic collisions. Bottom: Number of secondary ions created by a photoelectron of initial energy E0, normalized by E0. The three color-style combinations refer to pure H (black, long dashed), pure O (black, dotted), and an O-H mixture with fOn/Hn=1/2 (blue, solid). For each mixture, the four curves that are displayed (distinguishable by their thickness) refer to fractional ionizations log10(xe)=−1 (thickest), −2, −3, and −4 (thinnest). Although not shown for the sake of clarity, the Eelas/E0 ratio for E0≳100 eV for pure H becomes essentially independent of fractional ionization at xe

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Heating And Ionization By Non-thermal Electrons In The Upper Atmospheres Of Water-rich Exoplanets

by Keith CowingAugust 14, 2023August 14, 2023

Context. The long-term evolution of an atmosphere and the remote detectability of its chemical constituents are susceptible to how the atmospheric gas responds to stellar irradiation. The response remains poorly […]

Spectral S/N comparison between ESO's ELT spectroscopic ETC and Imber using the same methodology. For comparison, a 1500 K object with an apparent J magnitude of 15 was used with a 300 s exposure. The spectral S/N were output in the L band to demonstrate Imber's ability to scale apparent magnitudes based on input spectra and to demonstrate performance in a similar band as ELT/METIS. Vertical axis is logarithmic. -- Astrophysical Journal

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics, TRAPPIST-1

Using Cosmic Weather To Study Which Worlds Could Support Life

by Keith CowingJuly 29, 2023July 29, 2023

As the next generation of giant, high-powered observatories begin to come online, a new study suggests that their instruments may offer scientists an unparalleled opportunity to discern what weather may […]

Median temperature (K) differences between high and low pCO2 scenarios and median wind speeds (m s−1) for each scenario for Earth-like (a, c) and TRAPPIST-1e (b, d) ExoCAM simulations at (a, b) upper and (c, d) near-surface levels. Black and green quivers represent the high and low pCO2 scenarios, respectively. Using the Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test, lime and magenta-filled contours for wind speed and temperature represent areas not statistically significant at the 5% level, respectively. -- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1

Greenhouse Gas Supplement Increases Warming And Alters Circulation Patterns On Earth and Earth-like Exoplanets

by Keith CowingJuly 13, 2023July 13, 2023

With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the study of exoplanetary atmospheres and their potential habitability reached new heights. A team of researchers led by Dr. Assaf […]

Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1

Composition Constraints Of The TRAPPIST-1 Planets From Their Formation

by Keith CowingJuly 13, 2023July 13, 2023

We study the formation of the TRAPPIST-1 (T1) planets starting shortly after Moon-sized bodies form just exterior to the ice line. Our model includes mass growth from pebble accretion and […]

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1

Analogous Response Of Temperate Terrestrial Exoplanets And Earth’s Climate Dynamics To Greenhouse Gas Supplement

by Keith CowingJuly 6, 2023July 6, 2023

Humanity is close to characterizing the atmospheres of rocky exoplanets due to the advent of JWST. These astronomical observations motivate us to understand exoplanetary atmospheres to constrain habitability.

Artist impression showing the exoplanet LP 890-9c’s potential evolution from a hot Earth to a desiccated Venus. Carl Sagan Institute/R. Payne

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1, Venus, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Exoplanet LP 890-9c May Reveal Secrets About The Edge Of Habitability

by Keith CowingJune 21, 2023June 21, 2023

How close can a rocky planet be to a star, and still sustain water and life? A recently discovered exoplanet may be key to solving that mystery.

Rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 c artist's concept.

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1

Webb Rules Out Thick Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere for Rocky Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 c

by Keith CowingJune 19, 2023June 19, 2023

An international team of researchers has used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to calculate the amount of heat energy coming from the rocky exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 c. The result suggests that […]

All Trappist-1e model outputs consistent with an airless Trappist-1b and c, and with initial volatile endowments constrained by the airlessness of the inner planets. Since Trappist-1e orbits beyond the runaway greenhouse limit during the main sequence evolution of Trappist-1, the potential for substantial atmospheric erosion is limited, as most model runs in Monte Carlo simulations retain substantial surface volatile inventories. -- astro-ph.EP

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, TRAPPIST-1

Implications Of Atmospheric Non-detections For Trappist-1 Inner Planets on Atmospheric Retention Prospects For Outer Planets

by Keith CowingJune 9, 2023June 9, 2023

JWST secondary eclipse observations of Trappist-1b seemingly disfavor atmospheres >~1 bar since heat redistribution is expected to yield dayside emission temperature below the ~500 K observed.

The eclipse spectra of various models run in this study. We show: a suite of atmospheric models that are 1-σ consistent with the observation (top left); bare surface models, which are all consistent with the observation (top right); 100 % CO2 atmospheres models at various surface pressures (bottom left); and models with surface pressures of 0.1 bar, varying the compositions (bottom right). The compositions denote that the first species is the dominant species, with the second species in indicated trace amounts. The binned depths at F1500W and F1280W are shown as markers, as well as each bandpass function weighted by the stellar spectrum. We also show, in dashed lines, the eclipse depths resulting from blackbodies at 509 K (blue) and 400 K (red), corresponding to no redistribution (f = 2/3) and full redistribution (f = 1/4), respectively. On the upper right panel, dashed lines indicate grey albedo surface models. -- astro-ph.EP

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1

Constraining the Thickness of the Atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1 b from its JWST Secondary Eclipse Observation

by Keith CowingMay 17, 2023May 17, 2023

Recently, the first JWST measurement of thermal emission from a rocky exoplanet was reported. The inferred dayside brightness temperature of TRAPPIST-1 b at 15 μm is consistent with the planet […]

TRAPPIST-1

Potential Atmospheric Compositions of TRAPPIST-1 c constrained by JWST/MIRI Observations At 15 μm

Heating And Ionization By Non-thermal Electrons In The Upper Atmospheres Of Water-rich Exoplanets

Using Cosmic Weather To Study Which Worlds Could Support Life

Greenhouse Gas Supplement Increases Warming And Alters Circulation Patterns On Earth and Earth-like Exoplanets

Composition Constraints Of The TRAPPIST-1 Planets From Their Formation

Analogous Response Of Temperate Terrestrial Exoplanets And Earth’s Climate Dynamics To Greenhouse Gas Supplement

Exoplanet LP 890-9c May Reveal Secrets About The Edge Of Habitability

Webb Rules Out Thick Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere for Rocky Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 c

Implications Of Atmospheric Non-detections For Trappist-1 Inner Planets on Atmospheric Retention Prospects For Outer Planets

Constraining the Thickness of the Atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1 b from its JWST Secondary Eclipse Observation

NASA Establishes Mars Forward Operational Risk and Contamination Evaluation (M-FORCE) Tiger Team to Shape Mars Planetary Protection Protocols

Opportunity to Contribute to NASA DARES Community White Paper on Phototrophic Biosignatures

The Search For Life Elsewhere: Avoiding Hype and Fostering Public Understanding

Panchromatic Spectra of Nearby Low-mass and Sun-like Stars with Directly Imageable Habitable Zones

Alfred: A Flexible, User-Friendly Python Package for Exoplanet Confirmation