[Astrophysical Journal] Microlensing surveys suggest the presence of a surprisingly large population of free-floating planets, with a rate of about two Neptunes per star.
The Astrophysical Journal
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release
Astrochemistry Update: SPHEREx Maps Vast Galactic Ice Regions
NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) mission has mapped interstellar ice at an unprecedented scale.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Status Report
Binding Energies of Interstellar Complex Organic Molecules on Water Ice Surfaces: A Quantum Chemical Investigation
Interstellar dust grains are enveloped by ices of frozen molecules in cold, dense regions of the interstellar medium (ISM), which are also observed in the gas phase.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
CO Detected in CI Tau b: Hot Start Implied by Planet Mass and MK
We acquired high-resolution infrared spectra of CI Tau, the host star of one of the few young planet candidates amenable to direct spectroscopic detection.
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Bridging Machine Learning and Spectroscopy: A New Analysis for Astrochemical Target Selection
In the last few years, several approaches have used machine learning to reproduce the inventory and column densities of interstellar molecular sources.
Posted inAstrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Habitable Zones, Status Report
Polarized Signatures of the Earth Through Time: An Outlook for the Habitable Worlds Observatory
The search for life beyond the solar system remains a primary goal of current and near-future missions, including NASA’s upcoming Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
Water Ice in the Edge-on Orion Silhouette Disk 114–426 from JWST NIRCam Images
We examine images of the protoplanetary disk 114–426 with JWST/NIRCam in 12 bands. This large disk is oriented edge on with a dark midplane flanked by lobes of scattered light.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography
Setting The Stage For The Search For Life With The Habitable Worlds Observatory: Properties Of 164 Promising Planet-survey Targets
The Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 has recommended that NASA realize a large IR/optical/UV space telescope optimized for high-contrast imaging and spectroscopy of ∼25 exo-Earths and transformative general […]
Posted inAtmospheres, Climate, Weather, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Radiation, Space Weather & Heliophysics, Status Report, TRAPPIST-1
Heating of the Atmospheres of Short-orbit Exoplanets by Their Rapid Orbital Motion through an Extreme Space Environment
Exoplanets with short orbit periods reside very close to their host stars. They transition very rapidly between different sectors of the circumstellar space environment along their orbit, leading to large […]