The ∼5 Myr PDS 70 is the only known system with protoplanets residing in the cavity of the circumstellar disk from which they formed, ideal for studying exoplanet formation and […]
JWST/MIRI
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
The JWST Early Release Science Program for Direct Observations of Exoplanetary Systems II: A 1 to 20 Micron Spectrum of the Planetary-Mass Companion VHS 1256-1257 b
We present the highest fidelity spectrum to date of a planetary-mass object. VHS 1256 b is a <20 MJup widely separated (∼8 arcsec, a = 150 au), young, planetary-mass companion […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exploration Gear & Tech, Status Report
Simultaneous Retrieval of Orbital Phase Resolved JWST/MIRI Emission Spectra of the Hot Jupiter WASP-43b: Evidence of Water, Ammonia and Carbon Monoxide
Spectroscopic phase curves of hot Jupiters measure their emission spectra at multiple orbital phases, thus enabling detailed characterisation of their atmospheres. Precise constraints on the atmospheric composition of these exoplanets […]
![Comparison of SPECULOOS-3 b with other rocky exoplanets. a) Sizes of host stars and incident stellar flux of known sub-Neptune-sized exoplanets. The size of the symbols scales linearly with the radius of the planet. The background is colour-coded according to stellar size (in units of the Sun’s size), with the ultra-cool dwarf regime shown in orange. The positions of the Solar System terrestrial planets are shown for reference. One can see on this Figure that SPECULOOS-3 b extends the unique planet sample of TRAPPIST-1 to a larger stellar flux. b) SPECULOOS-3 b in the context of other known transiting terrestrial exoplanets (Rp < 1.6R⊕) that are cool enough (Teq < 880 K [80]) to have a dayside made of solid rock (in contrast to hotter magma worlds with molten surfaces). The planets are shown as a function of their radius and their Emission Spectroscopy Metric [62]. They are color-coded as a function of their equilibrium temperature. The shaded green area highlights planetary radii most similar to Earth’s (0.9–1.1 R⊕). The dashed horizontal line represents the threshold of ESM=7.5 recommended by ref. [62] to identify the top targets for emission spectroscopy with JWST. SPECULOOS-3 b is one of the smallest planets amenable to emission spectroscopy with MIRI/LRS. Data from https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu (16th of October 2023). -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Detection-Of-An-Earth-sized-Exoplanet.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Detection Of An Earth-sized Exoplanet Orbiting The Nearby Ultracool Dwarf Star SPECULOOS-3
Located at the bottom of the main sequence, ultracool dwarf stars are widespread in the solar neighbourhood. Nevertheless, their extremely low luminosity has left their planetary population largely unexplored, and […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Origin & Evolution of Life, Panspermia, Status Report
On The Origin Of Infrared Bands Attributed To Tryptophan In Spitzer Observations Of IC 348
Infrared emission features toward interstellar gas of the IC 348 star cluster in Perseus have been recently proposed to originate from the amino acid tryptophan.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Gas Giants, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Webb Detects Water Vapor, Sulfur Dioxide And Sand Clouds In The Atmosphere Nearby Exoplanet WASP-107b
A team of European astronomers, co-led by researchers from the Institute of Astronomy, KU Leuven, used recent observations made with the James Webb Space Telescope to study the atmosphere of […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Brown Dwarfs, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
15NH3 In The Atmosphere Of A Cool Brown Dwarf
Brown dwarfs serve as ideal laboratories for studying the atmospheres of giant exoplanets on wide orbits as the governing physical and chemical processes in them are nearly identical. Understanding the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
The Diverse Chemistry Of Protoplanetary Disks As Revealed By JWST
Early results from the JWST-MIRI guaranteed time programs on protostars (JOYS) and disks (MINDS) are presented. Thanks to the increased sensitivity, spectral and spatial resolution of the MIRI spectrometer, the […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
JWST Reveals Excess Cool Water Near The Snowline In Compact Disks, Consistent With Pebble Drift
Previous analyses of mid-infrared water spectra from young protoplanetary disks observed with the Spitzer-IRS found an anti-correlation between water luminosity and the millimeter dust disk radius observed with ALMA.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
PHANGS-JWST First Results: Destruction of the PAH molecules in HII regions probed by JWST and MUSE
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) play a critical role in the reprocessing of stellar radiation and in balancing the heating and cooling processes in the interstellar medium (ISM), but appear to […]