The gas giant planets in the Solar System have a retinue of icy moons, and we expect giant exoplanets to have similar satellite systems. If a Jupiter-like planet were to […]
extrasolar
Posted inPanspermia, Press Release
Enhanced Interplanetary Panspermia In The TRAPPIST-1 System
We present a simple model for estimating the probability of interplanetary panspermia in the recently discovered system of seven planets orbiting the ultracool dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, and find that panspermia […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
Triaxial Deformation and Asynchronous Rotation of Rocky Planets in the Habitable Zone of Low-Mass Stars
Rocky planets orbiting M-dwarf stars in the habitable zone tend to be driven to synchronous rotation by tidal dissipation, potentially causing difficulties for maintaining a habitable climate on the planet. […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
The Equilibrium Temperature of Planets in Elliptical Orbits
There exists a positive correlation between orbital eccentricity and the average stellar flux that planets receive from their parent star. Often, though, it is assumed that the average equilibrium temperature […]
Posted inHabitable Zones, Press Release
Constraints on Climate and Habitability for Earth-like Exoplanets Determined from a General Circulation Model
Conventional definitions of habitability require abundant liquid surface water to exist continuously over geologic timescales. Water in each of its thermodynamic phases interacts with solar and thermal radiation and is […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
Pale Orange Dots: The Impact of Organic Haze on the Habitability and Detectability of Earthlike Exoplanets
Hazes are common in known planet atmospheres, and geochemical evidence suggests early Earth occasionally supported an organic haze with significant environmental and spectral consequences. The UV spectrum of the parent […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Studying Ancient Earth To Understand Hazy Exoplanets
For astronomers trying to understand which distant planets might have habitable conditions, the role of atmospheric haze has been hazy. To help sort it out, a team of researchers has […]
Posted inHabitable Zones, Press Release
Impact of CO2 Ice Clouds on the Outer Boundary of the Habitable Zone
Clouds have a strong impact on the climate of planetary atmospheres. The potential scattering greenhouse effect of CO2 ice clouds in the atmospheres of terrestrial extrasolar planets is of particular […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Press Release
Discovery of Water at High Spectral Resolution in the Atmosphere of 51 Peg b
We report the detection of water absorption features in the dayside spectrum of the first-known hot Jupiter, 51 Peg b, confirming the star-planet system to be a double-lined spectroscopic binary. […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release
Characterizing Exoplanets for Habitability
A habitable exoplanet is a world that can maintain stable liquid water on its surface. Techniques and approaches to characterizing such worlds are essential, as performing a census of Earth-like […]