Join us at STScI for the Rocky Worlds DDT Workshop Data Challenge Results & Rocky Worlds DDT Science, a community gathering focused on the science enabled by the Rocky Worlds […]
Habitable Worlds Observatory
HWO2026 (Habitable Worlds Observatory)
HWO2026 is an international scientific conference bringing together researchers, engineers, industry, and experts to discuss recent advances, ongoing developments, and future perspectives related to HWO. The conference will provide a […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Searching For Habitable Exoplanets With Relative Astrometry (SHERA). I. The Case For Searching For Planets In Binary Star Systems
[astro-ph.EP] Discovering Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars was identified as a priority science goal of the Astronomy 2020 Decadal Survey.
![[LEFT]: Schematic of the star–planet–observer geometry defining the phase angle α, measured between the star–planet and planet–observer directions. The hemisphere of the planet facing the star is fully illuminated (gold) at all times, while the opposite hemisphere remains in shadow. The observer sees only the portion of the illuminated hemisphere that is visible at a given α, with full illumination visible only at α = 0◦. [RIGHT]: Illustration of planetary phases along an edge-on orbit, with the star at the center and the observer direction indicated below the orbit. Although the star-facing hemisphere remains illuminated throughout the orbit, the visible fraction of this hemisphere changes with phase angle. Full phase occurs at α = 0◦, quadrature at α = 90◦, and new phase at α = 180 , with gibbous and crescent phases spanning the intermediate ranges. -- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/The-Impact.png?resize=1200%2C714&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes
The Impact of Planetary Phase Functions On Exo-Earth Detectability With EXOSIMS
[astro-ph.EP] The under-development NASA Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) aims to provide breakthroughs in exoplanet science, yet the most effective approaches to modeling the detection and characterization of potentially Earth-like worlds […]
![(a) The HWK4123 sensor has a standard ceramic land grid array (CGLA) package and measures 31.1 × 36.6 mm. The imaging pixel array is in the center of the sensor. (b) The PHOTRON system is shown outside the dewar. The HWK4123 mounts behind the black enclosure in the top-left corner. (c) The QUEST camera attaches to the output of an integrating sphere, and the sphere receives light from a monochromator. -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Single-Photon.png?resize=1200%2C704&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes
Single-Photon Counting CMOS Detectors For The Habitable Worlds Observatory
[astro-ph.IM] The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is NASA’s current New Great Observatory concept. HWO will observe the universe to search for life beyond Earth. It will need unprecedented instrument stability […]
![Pollux optical layout. The exact sequence in the optical path of the retractable polarimeters and fiber link connections of the OPT and NIR is still to be discussed and what shown here is not representative of the final configuration. -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pollux.png?resize=1200%2C715&ssl=1)
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Pollux: High-resolution Precision Spectroscopy And Polarimetry For The Habitable Worlds Observatory
[astro-ph.IM] Pollux is a high-resolution spectrograph and spectropolarimeter (R from 65000 to 100000) covering a spectral range from 100 nm to 1750 nm, proposed by a European consortium to equip […]
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Detecting Habitable Exoplanet Atmospheres With LIFE, The Large Interferometer For Exoplanets
[astro-ph.IM] A key goal of astronomers with the next generation telescopes is to detect signs of life in exoplanet atmospheres. NASA’s next flagship is the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Welcoming The Virtual Planetary Laboratory To Its New Home At The SETI Institute
[SETI Institute] The Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL), one of NASA’s flagship astrobiology research teams, has officially moved its institutional home to the SETI Institute. In 2026 the VPL will also […]
Posted inUncategorized
UKs Key Habitable Worlds Observatory Instrument In NASA’s Hunt For Earth-like Worlds
[Royal Astronomical Society] UK astronomers are a step closer to playing a leading role in NASA’s search for alien life in the coming decades, after receiving £3million to continue developing […]
![(Left) The aperture assumed in these simulations. Furthermore, the stellar radius is assumed to be 0.03 λ/D, and the planet is assumed to be at 1 λ/D in the positive X direction. Middle) The single-moded measurement shown in the pupil plane (top) and focal plane (bottom) obtained by using the highest information mode from the calculation of the SLD, denoted here as SLD Mode 0. Right) The single-moded measurement shown in the pupil and focal planes as calculated using a classical numerical optimization. Pupil plane extents are from -0.5 to 0.5 (with an aperture diameter normalized to 1), while focal plane extents are from -5 λ/D to 5λ/D. Both of these methods are described in Ref. 13, and achieve ηs ≈ 1 × 10−9 , with ηp at 1 λ/D of approximately 19%, and a maximum ηp of 73% at 1.8 λ/D. -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Optimal-mode-sorting.png?resize=1200%2C717&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes
Optimal Mode-sorting Coronagraphy: Limits Of Single-moded Measurements For The Habitable Worlds Observatory
[astro-ph.IM] Conventional coronagraph architectures struggle to reach the theoretical limit of exoplanet detection at close working angles. Spatial mode-sorting is capable of reaching the theoretical limit, which previous work has […]