Extrasolar Planets"
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 School of Sciences and Mathematics Annual Report 2014‐2015
ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 School of Sciences and Mathematics Annual Report 2014‐2015 Executive Summary The 2014 – 2015 academic year was a very successful one for the School of Sciences and Mathematics (SSM). Our faculty continued their stellar record of publication and securing extramural funding, and we were able to significantly advance several capital projects. In addition, the number of majors in SSM remained very high and we continued to provide research experiences for a significant number of our students. We welcomed four new faculty members to our ranks. These individuals and their colleagues published 187 papers in peer‐reviewed scientific journals, many with undergraduate co‐authors. Faculty also secured $6.4M in new extramural grant awards to go with the $24.8M of continuing awards. During the 2013‐14 AY, ground was broken for two 3,000 sq. ft. field stations at Dixie Plantation, with construction slated for completion in Fall 2014. These stations were ultimately competed in June 2015, and will begin to serve students for the Fall 2015 semester. The 2014‐2015 academic year, marked the first year of residence of Computer Science faculty, as well as some Biology and Physics faculty, in Harbor Walk. In addition, nine Biology faculty had offices and/or research space at SCRA, and some biology instruction occurred at MUSC. In general, the displacement of a large number of students to Harbor Walk went very smoothly. Temporary astronomy viewing space was secured on the roof of one of the College’s garages. The SSM dean’s office expended tremendous effort this year to secure a contract for completion of the Rita Hollings Science Center renovation, with no success to date. -
The Discovery of Exoplanets
L'Univers, S´eminairePoincar´eXX (2015) 113 { 137 S´eminairePoincar´e New Worlds Ahead: The Discovery of Exoplanets Arnaud Cassan Universit´ePierre et Marie Curie Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris 98bis boulevard Arago 75014 Paris, France Abstract. Exoplanets are planets orbiting stars other than the Sun. In 1995, the discovery of the first exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star paved the way to an exoplanet detection rush, which revealed an astonishing diversity of possible worlds. These detections led us to completely renew planet formation and evolu- tion theories. Several detection techniques have revealed a wealth of surprising properties characterizing exoplanets that are not found in our own planetary system. After two decades of exoplanet search, these new worlds are found to be ubiquitous throughout the Milky Way. A positive sign that life has developed elsewhere than on Earth? 1 The Solar system paradigm: the end of certainties Looking at the Solar system, striking facts appear clearly: all seven planets orbit in the same plane (the ecliptic), all have almost circular orbits, the Sun rotation is perpendicular to this plane, and the direction of the Sun rotation is the same as the planets revolution around the Sun. These observations gave birth to the Solar nebula theory, which was proposed by Kant and Laplace more that two hundred years ago, but, although correct, it has been for decades the subject of many debates. In this theory, the Solar system was formed by the collapse of an approximately spheric giant interstellar cloud of gas and dust, which eventually flattened in the plane perpendicular to its initial rotation axis. -
Where Are the Distant Worlds? Star Maps
W here Are the Distant Worlds? Star Maps Abo ut the Activity Whe re are the distant worlds in the night sky? Use a star map to find constellations and to identify stars with extrasolar planets. (Northern Hemisphere only, naked eye) Topics Covered • How to find Constellations • Where we have found planets around other stars Participants Adults, teens, families with children 8 years and up If a school/youth group, 10 years and older 1 to 4 participants per map Materials Needed Location and Timing • Current month's Star Map for the Use this activity at a star party on a public (included) dark, clear night. Timing depends only • At least one set Planetary on how long you want to observe. Postcards with Key (included) • A small (red) flashlight • (Optional) Print list of Visible Stars with Planets (included) Included in This Packet Page Detailed Activity Description 2 Helpful Hints 4 Background Information 5 Planetary Postcards 7 Key Planetary Postcards 9 Star Maps 20 Visible Stars With Planets 33 © 2008 Astronomical Society of the Pacific www.astrosociety.org Copies for educational purposes are permitted. Additional astronomy activities can be found here: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov Detailed Activity Description Leader’s Role Participants’ Roles (Anticipated) Introduction: To Ask: Who has heard that scientists have found planets around stars other than our own Sun? How many of these stars might you think have been found? Anyone ever see a star that has planets around it? (our own Sun, some may know of other stars) We can’t see the planets around other stars, but we can see the star. -
Exep Science Plan Appendix (SPA) (This Document)
ExEP Science Plan, Rev A JPL D: 1735632 Release Date: February 15, 2019 Page 1 of 61 Created By: David A. Breda Date Program TDEM System Engineer Exoplanet Exploration Program NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Dr. Nick Siegler Date Program Chief Technologist Exoplanet Exploration Program NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Concurred By: Dr. Gary Blackwood Date Program Manager Exoplanet Exploration Program NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology EXOPDr.LANET Douglas Hudgins E XPLORATION PROGRAMDate Program Scientist Exoplanet Exploration Program ScienceScience Plan Mission DirectorateAppendix NASA Headquarters Karl Stapelfeldt, Program Chief Scientist Eric Mamajek, Deputy Program Chief Scientist Exoplanet Exploration Program JPL CL#19-0790 JPL Document No: 1735632 ExEP Science Plan, Rev A JPL D: 1735632 Release Date: February 15, 2019 Page 2 of 61 Approved by: Dr. Gary Blackwood Date Program Manager, Exoplanet Exploration Program Office NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dr. Douglas Hudgins Date Program Scientist Exoplanet Exploration Program Science Mission Directorate NASA Headquarters Created by: Dr. Karl Stapelfeldt Chief Program Scientist Exoplanet Exploration Program Office NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology Dr. Eric Mamajek Deputy Program Chief Scientist Exoplanet Exploration Program Office NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology This research was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. © 2018 California Institute of Technology. Government sponsorship acknowledged. Exoplanet Exploration Program JPL CL#19-0790 ExEP Science Plan, Rev A JPL D: 1735632 Release Date: February 15, 2019 Page 3 of 61 Table of Contents 1. -
Exoplanetary Atmospheres: Key Insights, Challenges, and Prospects
AA57CH15_Madhusudhan ARjats.cls August 7, 2019 14:11 Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics Exoplanetary Atmospheres: Key Insights, Challenges, and Prospects Nikku Madhusudhan Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HA, United Kingdom; email: [email protected] Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 2019. 57:617–63 Keywords The Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics is extrasolar planets, spectroscopy, planet formation, habitability, atmospheric online at astro.annualreviews.org composition https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-astro-081817- 051846 Abstract Copyright © 2019 by Annual Reviews. Exoplanetary science is on the verge of an unprecedented revolution. The All rights reserved thousands of exoplanets discovered over the past decade have most recently been supplemented by discoveries of potentially habitable planets around nearby low-mass stars. Currently, the field is rapidly progressing toward de- tailed spectroscopic observations to characterize the atmospheres of these planets. Various surveys from space and the ground are expected to detect numerous more exoplanets orbiting nearby stars that make the planets con- ducive for atmospheric characterization. The current state of this frontier of exoplanetary atmospheres may be summarized as follows. We have entered the era of comparative exoplanetology thanks to high-fidelity atmospheric observations now available for tens of exoplanets. Access provided by Florida International University on 01/17/21. For personal use only. Annu. Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 2019.57:617-663. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org Recent studies reveal a rich diversity of chemical compositions and atmospheric processes hitherto unseen in the Solar System. Elemental abundances of exoplanetary atmospheres place impor- tant constraints on exoplanetary formation and migration histories. -
Exoplanetologia – Em Busca De Um Planeta Habitável
Exoplanetologia - Em busca de um planeta habitável Ruben Romano Borges Barbosa Mestrado em Desenvolvimento Curricular pela Astronomia Departamento de Física e Astronomia 2015 Orientador Pedro Viana, Professor Auxiliar, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto FCUP 2 Exoplanetologia – Em busca de um planeta habitável Todas as correções determinadas pelo júri, e só essas, foram efetuadas. O Presidente do Júri, Porto, ______/______/_________ FCUP 3 Exoplanetologia – Em busca de um planeta habitável Agradecimentos Foi um estado de insuficiência revelado por uma sensação desagradável de falta que me impulsionou na concretização desta escalada ao “cume de Maslow”. Os mais próximos contribuíram com fortes incentivos, palavras de motivação, sugestões, críticas valiosas e outros apoios de difícil quantificação. A sua importância na expressão qualitativa e quantitativa deste trabalho assume uma propriedade tão peculiar que sem eles, com toda a certeza, teria sido muito difícil alcançar um resultado digno de registo. Mencionar aqui o nome dessas pessoas constitui um pilar de justiça e de homenagem sentida da minha parte. A todos os Professores que tive o prazer de conhecer na Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, João Lima, Mário João Monteiro, Catarina Lobo e Jorge Gameiro, deixo uma palavra de agradecimento pelos valiosos conhecimentos transmitidos, elevada disponibilidade e pelo carinho no trato. Ao Professor Pedro Viana, além de enquadrado no parágrafo anterior, foi também orientador do Seminário e desta dissertação, pelo que agradeço a completa disponibilidade sempre demonstrada para me auxiliar na escrita deste trabalho, tal como o empenho, as sugestões, os esclarecimentos, os comentários, as correções e o todo o material didático que me disponibilizou. -
On the Detection of Exoplanets Via Radial Velocity Doppler Spectroscopy
The Downtown Review Volume 1 Issue 1 Article 6 January 2015 On the Detection of Exoplanets via Radial Velocity Doppler Spectroscopy Joseph P. Glaser Cleveland State University Follow this and additional works at: https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/tdr Part of the Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! Recommended Citation Glaser, Joseph P.. "On the Detection of Exoplanets via Radial Velocity Doppler Spectroscopy." The Downtown Review. Vol. 1. Iss. 1 (2015) . Available at: https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/tdr/vol1/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at EngagedScholarship@CSU. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Downtown Review by an authorized editor of EngagedScholarship@CSU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Glaser: Detection of Exoplanets 1 Introduction to Exoplanets For centuries, some of humanity’s greatest minds have pondered over the possibility of other worlds orbiting the uncountable number of stars that exist in the visible universe. The seeds for eventual scientific speculation on the possibility of these "exoplanets" began with the works of a 16th century philosopher, Giordano Bruno. In his modernly celebrated work, On the Infinite Universe & Worlds, Bruno states: "This space we declare to be infinite (...) In it are an infinity of worlds of the same kind as our own." By the time of the European Scientific Revolution, Isaac Newton grew fond of the idea and wrote in his Principia: "If the fixed stars are the centers of similar systems [when compared to the solar system], they will all be constructed according to a similar design and subject to the dominion of One." Due to limitations on observational equipment, the field of exoplanetary systems existed primarily in theory until the late 1980s. -
Simulating (Sub)Millimeter Observations of Exoplanet Atmospheres in Search of Water
University of Groningen Kapteyn Astronomical Institute Simulating (Sub)Millimeter Observations of Exoplanet Atmospheres in Search of Water September 5, 2018 Author: N.O. Oberg Supervisor: Prof. Dr. F.F.S. van der Tak Abstract Context: Spectroscopic characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres is a field still in its in- fancy. The detection of molecular spectral features in the atmosphere of several hot-Jupiters and hot-Neptunes has led to the preliminary identification of atmospheric H2O. The Atacama Large Millimiter/Submillimeter Array is particularly well suited in the search for extraterrestrial water, considering its wavelength coverage, sensitivity, resolving power and spectral resolution. Aims: Our aim is to determine the detectability of various spectroscopic signatures of H2O in the (sub)millimeter by a range of current and future observatories and the suitability of (sub)millimeter astronomy for the detection and characterization of exoplanets. Methods: We have created an atmospheric modeling framework based on the HAPI radiative transfer code. We have generated planetary spectra in the (sub)millimeter regime, covering a wide variety of possible exoplanet properties and atmospheric compositions. We have set limits on the detectability of these spectral features and of the planets themselves with emphasis on ALMA. We estimate the capabilities required to study exoplanet atmospheres directly in the (sub)millimeter by using a custom sensitivity calculator. Results: Even trace abundances of atmospheric water vapor can cause high-contrast spectral ab- sorption features in (sub)millimeter transmission spectra of exoplanets, however stellar (sub) millime- ter brightness is insufficient for transit spectroscopy with modern instruments. Excess stellar (sub) millimeter emission due to activity is unlikely to significantly enhance the detectability of planets in transit except in select pre-main-sequence stars. -
The Search for Exomoons and the Characterization of Exoplanet Atmospheres
Corso di Laurea Specialistica in Astronomia e Astrofisica The search for exomoons and the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres Relatore interno : dott. Alessandro Melchiorri Relatore esterno : dott.ssa Giovanna Tinetti Candidato: Giammarco Campanella Anno Accademico 2008/2009 The search for exomoons and the characterization of exoplanet atmospheres Giammarco Campanella Dipartimento di Fisica Università degli studi di Roma “La Sapienza” Associate at Department of Physics & Astronomy University College London A thesis submitted for the MSc Degree in Astronomy and Astrophysics September 4th, 2009 Università degli Studi di Roma ―La Sapienza‖ Abstract THE SEARCH FOR EXOMOONS AND THE CHARACTERIZATION OF EXOPLANET ATMOSPHERES by Giammarco Campanella Since planets were first discovered outside our own Solar System in 1992 (around a pulsar) and in 1995 (around a main sequence star), extrasolar planet studies have become one of the most dynamic research fields in astronomy. Our knowledge of extrasolar planets has grown exponentially, from our understanding of their formation and evolution to the development of different methods to detect them. Now that more than 370 exoplanets have been discovered, focus has moved from finding planets to characterise these alien worlds. As well as detecting the atmospheres of these exoplanets, part of the characterisation process undoubtedly involves the search for extrasolar moons. The structure of the thesis is as follows. In Chapter 1 an historical background is provided and some general aspects about ongoing situation in the research field of extrasolar planets are shown. In Chapter 2, various detection techniques such as radial velocity, microlensing, astrometry, circumstellar disks, pulsar timing and magnetospheric emission are described. A special emphasis is given to the transit photometry technique and to the two already operational transit space missions, CoRoT and Kepler. -
A Pathfinder for Imaging Exo-Earths
mission control A pathfnder for imaging exo-Earths SCExAO is an instrument on the Subaru Telescope that is pushing the frontiers of what is possible with ground- based direct imaging of terrestrial exoplanets, explains Thayne Currie, on behalf of the SCExAO team. ver the past ten years, high-contrast Keck/NIRC2 Subaru/SCExAO/CHARIS c imaging systems and now dedicated (Conventional AO) (Extreme AO) Oextreme adaptive optics (AO) systems c on ground-based telescopes have revealed the first direct detections of young, self-luminous Jovian extrasolar planets on Solar System-like e scales, up to one million times fainter than the stars they orbit1. A key goal of the upcoming 30-m-class Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) d is to image a rocky, Earth-sized planet in d 0.5” the habitable zone around a nearby M star. 20 au However, doing so requires achieving planet- to-star contrasts 100 times deeper at 10 times Fig. 1 | Two near-infrared images of the HR 8799 system. The left image is from a leading conventional closer angular separations than currently (facility) AO system using the near-infrared camera on the Keck telescope (NIRC2); on the right is demonstrated with leading instruments like a SCExAO/CHARIS image, which exhibits higher signal-to-noise detections of planets HR 8799c and the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) or SPHERE HR 8799d and a detection of HR 8799e. at the Very Large Telescope. The Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics project (SCExAO)2 utilizes stars as faint as 12th magnitude in the optical. sufficient to image some exoplanets in and will further mature key advances in These deep contrasts translate into a new reflected light. -
Precise Radial Velocities of Giant Stars
A&A 555, A87 (2013) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201321714 & c ESO 2013 Astrophysics Precise radial velocities of giant stars V. A brown dwarf and a planet orbiting the K giant stars τ Geminorum and 91 Aquarii, David S. Mitchell1,2,SabineReffert1, Trifon Trifonov1, Andreas Quirrenbach1, and Debra A. Fischer3 1 Landessternwarte, Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Königstuhl 12, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany 2 Physics Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA e-mail: [email protected] 3 Department of Astronomy, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA Received 16 April 2013 / Accepted 22 May 2013 ABSTRACT Aims. We aim to detect and characterize substellar companions to K giant stars to further our knowledge of planet formation and stellar evolution of intermediate-mass stars. Methods. For more than a decade we have used Doppler spectroscopy to acquire high-precision radial velocity measurements of K giant stars. All data for this survey were taken at Lick Observatory. Our survey includes 373 G and K giants. Radial velocity data showing periodic variations were fitted with Keplerian orbits using a χ2 minimization technique. Results. We report the presence of two substellar companions to the K giant stars τ Gem and 91 Aqr. The brown dwarf orbiting τ Gem has an orbital period of 305.5±0.1 days, a minimum mass of 20.6 MJ, and an eccentricity of 0.031±0.009. The planet orbiting 91 Aqr has an orbital period of 181.4 ± 0.1 days, a minimum mass of 3.2 MJ, and an eccentricity of 0.027 ± 0.026. -
The Planetary System of Upsilon Andromedae
The Planetary System of Upsilon Andromedae Ing-Guey Jiang & Wing-Huen Ip Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Taipei, Taiwan National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan Received ; accepted {2{ ABSTRACT The bright F8 V solar-type star upsilon Andromedae has recently reported to have a system of three planets of Jovian masses. In order to investigate the orbital stability and mutual gravitational interactions among these planets, direct integrations of all three planets' orbits have been performed. It is shown that the middle and the outer planet have strong interaction leading to large time variations in the eccentricities of these planets. Subject headings: celestial mechanics - stellar dynamics - planetary system {3{ 1. Introduction As a result of recent observational efforts, the number of known extrasolar planets increased dramatically. Among these newly discovered planetary systems, upsilon Andromedae appears to be most interesting because of the presence of three planetary members (Butler et al. 1999). Since its discovery, the dynamics of this multiple planetary system has drawn a lot of attention. For example, it would be interesting to understand the origin of the orbital configurations of these three extrasolar planets and their mutual interactions. (See Table 1). Table 1: The Orbital Elements Companion Period M=MJ a/AU e B 4.62 d 0.72 0.059 0.042 C 242 d 1.98 0.83 0.22 D 3.8 yr 4.11 2.50 0.40 It is a remarkable fact that the eccentricities of the companion planets increase from 0.042 for the innermost member to a value as large as 0.40 for the outermost member.