PyStarshade Archives

Suppression in logarithmic units (diffraction intensity at the telescope aperture ∥f ∥ P ∥ 2 ) is shown for the HWO 60 m starshade with 16 petals at a wavelength of 500 nm, with a spatial sampling of ∆P = 2 cm, NP = 6000. The central dark shadow is masked by the telescope and produces the on-axis stellar PSF. The dark shadow must therefore be as large as the aperture. To maintain the dark shadow (contrast), the Fresnel number should remain constant f = R2 ss λz ∼ 10 − 20. This can be maintained at wavelengths outside of the band by changing the lateral flight distance of the starshade z. The dark shadow is approximately the size of the starshade in diameter (60m). -- astro-ph.IM

Astronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report

Efficient Exoplanet Imaging Simulations of the Habitable Worlds Observatory

by Keith CowingNovember 20, 2025November 20, 2025

Direct imaging simulations of starshades and other proposed mission concepts are needed to characterize planet detection performance and inform mission design trades.

PyStarshade

Efficient Exoplanet Imaging Simulations of the Habitable Worlds Observatory

NASA Establishes Mars Forward Operational Risk and Contamination Evaluation (M-FORCE) Tiger Team to Shape Mars Planetary Protection Protocols

Opportunity to Contribute to NASA DARES Community White Paper on Phototrophic Biosignatures

The Search For Life Elsewhere: Avoiding Hype and Fostering Public Understanding

Panchromatic Spectra of Nearby Low-mass and Sun-like Stars with Directly Imageable Habitable Zones

Alfred: A Flexible, User-Friendly Python Package for Exoplanet Confirmation