‘Lava worlds’-Earth-sized planets hot enough (Teq >~ 1100 K) to melt their dayside silicate surfaces-have emerged as promising candidates for atmospheric detection and characterization. Thermal emission observations show an apparent […]
astro-ph.EP
![2D color map as a function of Teq and [M/H]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sub-Neptunes-as-Soot.png?resize=1200%2C710&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Sub-Neptunes As Soot Factories: Deep Atmosphere Hydrocarbon Formation and Quenching as the Origin of Sub-Neptune Aerosol Trends
Recent population-level studies of sub-Neptune atmospheres have identified a parabolic trend in transmission spectrum amplitude for planets with Teq ~ 500-800 K. While the trend has been commonly attributed to […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Jupiter, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report
Constraining Electron-Impact Ionization of O2 Through UV Aurora Observations at Ganymede
While photoionization rates of Ganymede‘s O2 dominated atmosphere are well constrained, the contribution of electron-impact ionization is rather uncertain.
Posted inAstrogeology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Enceladus, Europa, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Icy Worlds, Io, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Status Report, Triton, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Active Moons In Our Solar System And Beyond — Io, Europa, Enceladus, Triton, and Exomoons
The outgassing signatures of Io, Europa, Enceladus, Triton, and Io-like exomoons are the focus of this review chapter. The rocky volcanic world of Io is unique in our Solar System, […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Ice Giant, Status Report, Stellar Cartography
Origin And Characterization Of Super-Earths And Sub-Neptunes
Super-Earths and sub-Neptunes represent the most common class of exoplanets discovered to date in our galaxy, yet they have no direct analogues in the Solar System. Since 2014, researchers within […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Europa, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Status Report
Thermal Segregation and Reddening in Europa’s Double Ridges
Europa’s double ridges often display lower albedo and redder color than their surroundings. Their unique topography may cause sublimation-driven darkening due to illumination and self-heating, a process known as thermal […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
NCCR PlanetS: Observational And Computational Characterization Of Exoplanet Atmospheres
This chapter reviews the current state of observational and theoretical efforts in the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres, with a focus on developments enabled through the Swiss National Centre for Competence […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Stellar Cartography
Long-period Transiting Exoplanets: Advances In Detection And Characterization
Most detected transiting planets have orbits which would fit within the one of Mercury, exposing them to intense stellar irradiation and interactions that significantly alter their properties.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Finding Circumbinary Planets: A Semi-Automated Transit Search of TESS Eclipsing Binaries
The discovery of circumbinary planets (CBPs) has advanced our understanding of planet formation and dynamical evolution in complex environments.
Posted inAstrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
Dust Processing in Protoplanetary Discs From Infall to Dispersal: the Origin of Solar System Isotopic Heterogeneities
The nucleosynthetic heterogeneity between different asteroids and planets is well established. These isotopic variations manifest themselves at the part per millions level or larger, in isotopes that were synthesised in […]