Terraforming Mars is an age old science fiction concept now worth revisiting through the lens of modern science and technology. This document serves as a summary of contemporary ideas about […]
astro-ph.IM
Posted inImaging & Spectroscopy, Intelligence & Language, SETI & Technosignatures, Status Report
A Cost-Effective Search for Extraterrestrial Probes in the Solar System
For centuries, astronomers have discussed the possibility of inhabited worlds – from Herschel’s 18th-century observations suggesting Mars may host life, to the systematic search for technosignatures that began in the […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
First Demonstration of Kernel Phase Interferometry on JWST/MIRI: Prospects for Future Planet Searches Around Post Main Sequence Stars
Kernel phase interferometry (KPI) is a post-processing technique that treats a conventional telescope as an interferometer by accurately modeling a telescope pupil as an array of virtual subapertures.
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Astronomy & Telescopes, Intelligence & Language, Interstellar, Science Fiction, SETI & Technosignatures, Societal Issues, Status Report
SETI Post-Detection Protocols: Progress Towards A New Version
The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) SETI Committee has long provided guiding principles for responding to a potential detection of a SETI signal.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
The Survival Of Aromatic Molecules In Protoplanetary Disks
Aromaticity is a common chemical functionalities in bioactive molecules. In interstellar and circumstellar environments benzene and other small aromatics are considered the precursor for more complex prebiotic molecules and they […]
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astrobiology (general), Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Reports, Roadmaps, & Plans, Status Report
Foundation Models for Astrobiology: Paper I — Workshop and Overview
Advances in machine learning over the past decade have resulted in a proliferation of algorithmic applications for encoding, characterizing, and acting on complex data that may contain many high dimensional […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Optical Design Pathways to Fluidic Space-Assembled Reflectors & Dual-Configuration Spectrographs for Characterizing Exo-Earths
In-space assembly of optical reflectors can solve light-gathering aperture scaling, which currently limits space-borne optical telescopes. Our compass reduces the top-level optical design trade to three types of avenues—a fluidic […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Missions & Hardware, Status Report
Advancing the Concept Maturity Level of the Servicing Architecture for Habitable Worlds Observer
This paper advances the concept maturity level (CML) of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) servicing architecture.
Posted inAstrobiology (general), Habitable Zones, Origin & Evolution of Life, SETI & Technosignatures, Status Report
Solar Hegemony: M-Dwarfs Are Unlikely to Host Observers Such as Ourselves
With no firm evidence for life beyond our solar system, inferences about the population observers such as ourselves rests upon the Earth as a single input, at least for now.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Habitable World Discovery and Characterization: Coronagraph Concept of Operations and Data Post-Processing
The discovery and characterization of habitable worlds was the top scientific recommendation of the Astro2020 decadal survey and is a key objective of the Habitable Worlds Observatory.