Observations of (giant) planets accreting material within their natal environment are crucial to constrain models for their formation.
VLT/SPHERE
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astronomy & Telescopes, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biophysics, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Interstellar, Press Release, Stellar Cartography
Astrochemistry: ALMA Reveals 57 Faces Of A Dying Star
Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have obtained detailed radio images of a dying star’s atmosphere, revealing a remarkably complex and dynamic environment rich in chemical diversity.
![[LEFT] A.1: WISPIT 1b, 1c, and background sources highlighted in the H-band median-combined image of epoch 2022-11-19. [RIGHT] WISPIT 1b, 1c, and background sources highlighted in the Ks-band median-combined image of epoch 2024-11-30. -- astro-ph.EP](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/WIde-Separation-Planets-In-Time.png?resize=1200%2C721&ssl=1)
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
WIde Separation Planets In Time (WISPIT): Two Directly Imaged Exoplanets Around The Sun-like Stellar Binary WISPIT 1
Wide separation gas giant planets present a challenge to current planet formation theories, and the detection and characterisation of these systems enables us to constrain their formation pathways.
Posted inAI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Astronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
MODEL&CO: Exoplanet Detection In Angular Differential Imaging By Learning Across Multiple Observations
Direct imaging of exoplanets is particularly challenging due to the high contrast between the planet and the star luminosities, and their small angular separation. In addition to tailored instrumental facilities […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Epsilon Eridani, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
SPHERE RefPlanets: Search For Epsilon Eridani b And Warm Dust
We carried out very deep VLT/SPHERE imaging polarimetry of the nearby system Eps Eri based on 38.5 hours of integration time with a 600 – 900 nm broadband filter to […]
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
PACOME: Optimal Multi-epoch Combination Of Direct Imaging Observations For Joint Exoplanet Detection And Orbit Estimation
Exoplanet detections and characterizations via direct imaging require high contrast and high angular resolution.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Status Report
Planetary System Architectures With Low-mass Inner Planets: Direct Imaging Exploration Of Mature Systems Beyond 1 AU
The discovery of planets orbiting at less than 1 au from their host star and less massive than Saturn in various exoplanetary systems revolutionized our theories of planetary formation.
Posted inAstronomy & Telescopes, Exoplanets, -moons, -comets, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
deep PACO: Combining Statistical Models With Deep Learning For Exoplanet Detection And Characterization In Direct Imaging At High Contrast
Direct imaging is an active research topic in astronomy for the detection and the characterization of young sub-stellar objects. The very high contrast between the host star and its companions […]
Posted inGanymede, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Press Release
Global Modelling of Ganymede’s Surface Composition: Near-IR Mapping from VLT/SPHERE
We present maps of Ganymede’s surface composition with almost complete longitude coverage, acquired using high spatial resolution near-infrared (0.95 to 1.65μm) observations from the ground-based VLT/SPHERE instrument. Observed reflectance spectra […]