JWST Archives

Brightness temperature spectra for the dayside hemisphere of selected modeled environments for TRAPPIST-1 c with JWST with points corresponding to the model spectra convolved to the F1500W filter band, over the full-wide half-max of the band’s wavelength extent (horizontal error bars). We also show the data point measured by Zieba et al. (2023), along with lines corresponding to blackbody temperatures for day-side with zero heat redistribution (dark grey dashed) and for a blackbody with perfect heat redistribution (light gray dashed). The best fit atmospheres are the 0.1 bar, O2-dominated atmospheres, at 0.5–1.0σ from the measured eclipse depth. -- astro-ph.EP

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1

Potential Atmospheric Compositions of TRAPPIST-1 c constrained by JWST/MIRI Observations At 15 μm

by Keith CowingAugust 14, 2023August 14, 2023

The first JWST observations of TRAPPIST-1 c showed a secondary eclipse depth of 421+/-94 ppm at 15 um, which is consistent with a bare rock surface or a thin, O2-dominated, […]

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

The Transient Outgassed Atmosphere of 55 Cancri e

by Keith CowingAugust 14, 2023August 14, 2023

The enigmatic nature of 55 Cancri e has defied theoretical explanation. Any explanation needs to account for the observed variability of its secondary eclipse depth, which is at times consistent […]

𝛼-phase of methanol ice. Dashed lines represent the OH· · · O hydrogen bonds forming methanol chains. Arrows represent the motion of O-H stretching when neighbouring chains are in-phase (a) or in counter-phase (b). -- astro-ph.IM

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report

Physical Properties of Methanol (CH3OH) Ice As A Function of Temperature: Density, Infrared Band Strengths, and Crystallization

by Keith CowingAugust 14, 2023August 14, 2023

The presence of methanol among the common ice components in interstellar clouds and protostellar envelopes has been confirmed by the James Webb Space Telescope. Methanol is often detected in the […]

Starlight-subtracted and roll-combined final JWST/NIRCam images of AU Mic in both F356W (top) and F444W (bottom). The images have been oriented such that the assumed disk major axis is parallel to the x-axis. To highlight the relative brightness of the disk at F356W, the images are displayed with the same linear color stretch. Both images have been smoothed with a σ = 0.5 pixel gaussian for presentation, and are displayed within a 10′′ × 3. ′′5 FOV. The approximate coronagraphic inner working angle is indicated by the dashed black circle, while the approximate position of the occulted star is marked with a white star symbol. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

JWST/NIRCam Coronagraphy of the Young Planet-hosting Debris Disk AU Microscopii

by Keith CowingAugust 8, 2023August 8, 2023

High-contrast imaging of debris disk systems permits us to assess the composition and size distribution of circumstellar dust, to probe recent dynamical histories, and to directly detect and characterize embedded […]

Sketch of a typical disk around a T Tauri star. Thermo-chemical disk models suggest a layered molecular structure with OH and CO at the top, followed by H2O and CO2. HCN and C2H2 peak in abundance deeper in the disk. Theory and observations suggest the possibility of radial transport of icy grains which can affect the inner disk gas composition. The MIRI instrument on board the James Webb Space Telescope probes the inner (≲ 10 au) warm disk surface. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

The Chemical Inventory of the Inner Regions of Planet-forming Disks — The JWST/MINDS Program

by Keith CowingJuly 31, 2023July 31, 2023

The understanding of planet formation has changed recently, embracing the new idea of pebble accretion. This means that the influx of pebbles from the outer regions of planet-forming disks to […]

Notation of the C70 characteristic bonds. Geometry of C70, with 8 characteristic bonds in different colors. -- astro-ph.GA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Status Report

Towards A Reliable Prediction Of The Infrared Spectra Of Cosmic Fullerenes And Their Derivatives In The JWST Era

by Keith CowingJuly 31, 2023

Fullerenes, including C60, C70, and C60+, are widespread in space through their characteristic infrared vibrational features (C60+ also reveals its presence in the interstellar medium through its electronic transitions) and […]

Spectral S/N comparison between ESO's ELT spectroscopic ETC and Imber using the same methodology. For comparison, a 1500 K object with an apparent J magnitude of 15 was used with a 300 s exposure. The spectral S/N were output in the L band to demonstrate Imber's ability to scale apparent magnitudes based on input spectra and to demonstrate performance in a similar band as ELT/METIS. Vertical axis is logarithmic. -- Astrophysical Journal

Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Press Release, Space Weather & Heliophysics, TRAPPIST-1

Using Cosmic Weather To Study Which Worlds Could Support Life

by Keith CowingJuly 29, 2023July 29, 2023

As the next generation of giant, high-powered observatories begin to come online, a new study suggests that their instruments may offer scientists an unparalleled opportunity to discern what weather may […]

Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Io, Press Release

Webb Telescope Offers New Views Of Ganymede And Io

by Keith CowingJuly 28, 2023

With its sensitive infrared cameras and high-resolution spectrometer, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is revealing new secrets of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites, in particular Ganymede, the largest moon, and Io, […]

Two dimensional map of the H2O and CO2 abundances of one quadrant of a disk around a low-mass star without a cavity (left) and with a 1 au cavity (right) 97. The dashed lines indicate the 70 and 200 K temperature contours; the blue line the τmid−IR = 1 line at 15 µm. The cavity radius is located between the H2O and CO2 snowlines. The disk model parameters are taken from ref. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

The Diverse Chemistry Of Protoplanetary Disks As Revealed By JWST

by Keith CowingJuly 26, 2023July 26, 2023

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 […]

This artist’s concept portrays the star PDS 70 and its inner protoplanetary disk. New measurements by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected water vapor at distances of less than 100 million miles from the star – the region where rocky, terrestrial planets may be forming. This is the first detection of water in the terrestrial region of a disk already known to host two or more protoplanets, one of which is shown at upper right. -- NASA

Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Press Release

Webb Detects Water Vapor in Rocky Planet-Forming Zone

by Keith CowingJuly 24, 2023July 24, 2023

Water is essential for life as we know it. However, scientists debate how it reached the Earth and whether the same processes could seed rocky exoplanets orbiting distant stars. New […]