Interstellar dust captures a significant fraction of elements heavier than helium in the solid state and is an indispensable component both in theory and observations of galaxy evolution.
Spectroscopy
Posted inBiochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Origin & Evolution of Life, Status Report
Stability of DL-Glyceraldehyde under Simulated Hydrothermal Conditions: Synthesis of Sugar-like Compounds in an Iron(III)-Oxide-Hydroxide-Rich Environment under Acidic Conditions
Researchers have suggested that the condensation of low-molecular-weight aldehydes under basic conditions (e.g., pH > 11) is the prebiotic reaction responsible for the abiotic formation of carbohydrates.
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Hubble WFC3 Spectroscopy of the Terrestrial Planets L~98-59~c \& d: No Evidence for a Clear Hydrogen Dominated Primary Atmosphere
The nearby bright M-dwarf star L~98-59 has three terrestrial-sized planets. One challenge remaining in characterizing atmospheres around such planets is that it is not known a priori whether they possess […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
On The Application of Bayesian Leave-One-Out Cross-Validation to Exoplanet Atmospheric Analysis
Over the last decade, exoplanetary transmission spectra have yielded an unprecedented understanding about the physical and chemical nature of planets outside our solar system. Physical and chemical knowledge is mainly […]
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Ultimate Limits Of Exoplanet Spectroscopy: A Quantum Approach
A multimode waveguide can be used as HermiteGaussian mode sorter. Light entering the device can be described as a combination of Hermite-Gaussian modes, each input mode is demultiplexed and sent […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Broadband Vortex Fiber Nulling: High-dispersion Exoplanet Science At The Diffraction Limit
As the number of confirmed exoplanets continues to grow, there is an increased push to spectrally characterize them to determine their atmospheric composition, formation paths, rotation rates, and habitability.
Posted inBiogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release, Venus
Phosphine In The Venusian Atmosphere: A Strict Upper Limit From SOFIA GREAT Observations
The presence of phosphine (PH3) in the atmosphere of Venus was reported by Greaves et al. (2021a), based on observations of the J=1-0 transition at 267 GHz using ground-based, millimeter-wave […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Press Release
Hubble WFC3 Spectroscopy of the Rocky Planet L 98-59 b: No Evidence for a Cloud-Free Primordial Atmosphere
We are using archived data from HST of transiting exoplanet L~98-59~b to place constraints on its potentially hot atmosphere.
Posted inArtemis & Lunar Exploration, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Missions & Hardware, Press Release
University Of Virginia Joins Artemis Missions To Seek Traces Of Extraterrestrial Life
Was there ever life on the moon? What about on other planets? With the U.S. slated to blast off soon to orbit the moon – its first trip there in […]
Posted inAriel Mission, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Missions & Hardware
The Ariel Target List: The Impact of TESS and the Potential for Characterising Multiple Planets Within a System
The ESA Ariel mission has been adopted for launch in 2029 and will conduct a survey of around one thousand exoplanetary atmospheres during its primary mission life. By providing homogeneous […]