Article
Environmental Sciences
Gordon L. Bjoraker, Michael H. Wong, Imke de Pater, Tilak Hewagama, Mate Adamkovics
Summary: By obtaining high-resolution spectra of Jupiter, we were able to analyze the spatial variation of NH3, H2O, and deep clouds on the planet. Our findings revealed significant variations in NH3 abundance in different latitudes and longitudes, as well as variations in the H2O abundance. This study provides important insights into the atmospheric structure and composition of Jupiter.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
P. Barth, Ch Helling, E. E. Stueken, V Bourrier, N. Mayne, P. B. Rimmer, M. Jardine, A. A. Vidotto, P. J. Wheatley, R. Fares
Summary: This study shows that high-energy radiation has an enhancing effect on the abundance of organic and pre-biotic molecules in the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter HD 189733b. Differences in irradiated dayside and shadowed nightside, as well as the ionization of the atmosphere by galactic cosmic rays and stellar particles, play crucial roles in the chemical abundances. Various types of high-energy radiation, including X-ray and UV emissions, have the potential to impact the production of key organic molecules in exoplanetary atmospheres.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
L. Fossati, M. E. Young, D. Shulyak, T. Koskinen, C. Huang, P. E. Cubillos, K. France, A. G. Sreejith
Summary: The atmospheric temperature of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-9b is found to be higher than predicted, with NLTE effects driving the high temperature by modifying the level populations of Fe and Mg. The Cloudy NLTE model produces stronger absorption lines than the LTE model, with an excellent match to observed line profiles, indicating the importance of NLTE effects in shaping the upper atmospheric temperature structure of KELT-9b. Future observations aiming at detecting features in the KELT-9b transmission spectrum should consider the NLTE synthetic transmission spectrum. The study suggests a need to investigate NLTE effects on cooler planets as well.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Yaqing Shi, Wei Wang, Gang Zhao, Meng Zhai, Guo Chen, Zewen Jiang, Qinglin Ouyang, Thomas Henning, Jingkun Zhao, Nicolas Crouzet, Roy van Boekel, Lisa Esteves
Summary: This study presents a thermal emission study of the ultrahot Jupiter WASP-103 b, revealing the existence of a thermal inversion layer in its atmosphere and a high abundance of carbon and oxygen. The planet is also found to be significantly more metal-rich compared to its host star. Improved accuracy data from future JWST observations are expected to provide better constraints on the atmospheric properties of WASP-103b.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
T. Cavalie, B. Benmahi, V. Hue, R. Moreno, E. Lellouch, T. Fouchet, P. Hartogh, L. Rezac, T. K. Greathouse, G. R. Gladstone, J. A. Sinclair, M. Dobrijevic, F. Billebaud, C. Jarchow
Summary: In this study, wind speeds in Jupiter's stratosphere were measured to bridge the altitude gap between the tropospheric and ionospheric wind patterns. Zonal jets were detected at low-to-mid latitudes, while nonzonal winds were found at polar latitudes, potentially aiding in chemical complexification processes.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
B. Benmahi, T. Cavalie, T. K. Greathouse, V Hue, R. Giles, S. Guerlet, A. Spiga, R. Cosentino
Summary: Researchers successfully mapped the zonal wind speeds in Jupiter's equatorial stratosphere, revealing the presence of eastward and westward jets. Their study provides a powerful tool for future investigations into the Jupiter equatorial oscillation and other planetary equatorial oscillations, as well as their temporal evolution, through simultaneous temperature and wind measurements in the stratosphere.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Marrick Braam, Floris F. S. van der Tak, Katy L. Chubb, Michiel Min
Summary: The study aims to detect exotic species in the transmission spectra of hot Jupiters, specifically WASP-31b, by conducting a re-analysis of publicly available transmission data. Evidence for spectroscopic signatures of chromium hydride (CrH), H2O, and K in WASP-31b is reported, with the presence of CrH in a hot Jupiter atmosphere being confirmed for the first time.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
L. Fossati, F. Biassoni, G. M. Cappello, F. Borsa, D. Shulyak, A. S. Bonomo, D. Gandolfi, F. Haardt, T. Koskinen, A. F. Lanza, V. Nascimbeni, D. Sicilia, M. Young, G. Aresu, A. Bignamini, M. Brogi, I. Carleo, R. Claudi, R. Cosentino, G. Guilluy, C. Knapic, L. Malavolta, L. Mancini, D. Nardiello, M. Pinamonti, L. Pino, E. Poretti, M. Rainer, F. Rigamonti, A. Sozzetti
Summary: This study aims to extract the transmission spectrum of the HI Balmer lines of the ultra-hot Jupiter KELT-20b/MASCARA-2b and compare it with the results obtained through forward modeling. Line profiles were extracted from six transits observed with the HARPS-N high-resolution spectrograph. The synthetic transmission spectrum derived from the NLTE TP profile is in good agreement with the observed HI Balmer line profiles, validating the obtained atmospheric structure.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
S-Q Wu, X-S Wu, J. Cui, Z-H Yao, Y-T Cao, H-Y Lu, F. He, L. Li, Y. Wei, J-B Cao
Summary: Atmospheric escape on Mars and its relationship with the ionosphere is a critical factor in understanding the loss of habitability. Solar extreme ultraviolet radiation is the main driver of variations in the Martian ionosphere. While the response of ionospheric electrons to this radiation has been well studied, the responses of different ion species are not yet fully understood. This study presents direct observations of periodic variations in photoelectrons and ions, with a common period of approximately 27.2 days and in phase with solar rotation. These variations show significantly different amplitudes, with ion density having a larger amplitude than solar flux and electron density having a smaller amplitude. The species-dependent solar rotation effects provide insights into the upper atmospheric and ionospheric chemistry, highlighting the need to reconsider the composition and variability of any planetary ionosphere driven by solar activity.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
D. Cont, F. Yan, A. Reiners, L. Nortmann, K. Molaverdikhani, E. Palle, Th Henning, I Ribas, A. Quirrenbach, J. A. Caballero, P. J. Amado, S. Czesla, F. Lesjak, M. Lopez-Puertas, P. Molliere, D. Montes, G. Morello, E. Nagel, S. Pedraz, A. Sanchez-Lopez
Summary: We studied the atmosphere of the ultra-hot Jupiter WASP-33b using emission spectroscopy. By analyzing high-resolution spectra from multiple observation nights, we detected the spectral signatures of several elements for the first time and confirmed the presence of other previously studied elements. We also found evidence of an inverted temperature profile and a higher metallicity compared to the Sun.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
A. F. Krenn, M. Lendl, J. A. Patel, L. Carone, M. Deleuil, S. Sulis, A. Collier Cameron, A. Deline, P. Guterman, D. Queloz, L. Fossati, A. Brandeker, K. Heng, B. Akinsanmi, V. Adibekyan, A. Bonfanti, O. D. S. Demangeon, D. Kitzmann, S. Salmon, S. G. Sousa, T. G. Wilson, Y. Alibert, R. Alonso, G. Anglada, T. Barczy, D. Barrado Navascues, S. C. C. Barros, W. Baumjohann, M. Beck, T. Beck, W. Benz, N. Billot, L. Blecha, X. Bonfils, L. Borsato, C. Broeg, J. Cabrera, S. Charnoz, C. Corral van Damme, Sz. Csizmadia, P. E. Cubillos, M. B. Davies, L. Delrez, B. -O Demory, D. Ehrenreich, A. Erikson, J. Farinato, A. Fortier, M. Fridlund, D. Gandolfi, M. Gillon, M. Guedel, S. Hoyer, K. G. Isaak, L. L. Kiss, E. Kopp, J. Laskar, A. Lecavelier des Etangs, C. Lovis, D. Magrin, P. F. L. Maxted, C. Mordasini, V. Nascimbeni, G. Olofsson, R. Ottensamer, I. Pagano, E. Palle, G. Peter, G. Piotto, D. Pollacco, R. Ragazzoni, N. Rando, H. Rauer, I. Ribas, N. C. Santos, G. Scandariato, D. Segransan, A. E. Simon, A. M. S. Smith, M. Steller, Gy. M. Szabo, N. Thomas, S. Udry, B. Ulmer, V. Van Grootel, J. Venturini, N. A. Walton
Summary: Measurements of the occultation of the gas giant HD 189733b using the CHEOPS space telescope provide a precise determination of its geometric albedo. The observed occultation depth of 24.7 +/- 4.5 ppm corresponds to a geometric albedo of 0.076 +/- 0.016. The reflective properties of the HD 189733b dayside atmosphere indicate a cloud-free atmosphere with a super-stellar metal content.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
John B. Biersteker, Hilke E. Schlichting
Summary: The formation of the Solar system's terrestrial planets included a period of giant impacts, which could lead to significant volatile loss and changes in the planetary volatile inventory.
Research has shown that giant impacts during the formation of terrestrial planets can result in the efficient loss of H2O and other volatile species, potentially including oceans.
These findings suggest that the volatile budgets of terrestrial planets may be diverse due to various factors such as giant impacts and early atmospheric evolutionary processes.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
B. Jacobs, J. -M. Desert, L. Pino, M. R. Line, J. L. Bean, N. Khorshid, E. Schlawin, J. Arcangeli, S. Barat, H. J. Hoeijmakers, T. D. Komacek, M. Mansfield, V. Parmentier, D. Thorngren
Summary: This study presents the analysis of a spectroscopic secondary eclipse of the hottest transiting exoplanet detected so far, KELT-9b, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope. The obtained thermal emission spectrum suggests the presence of high atmospheric metallicities and a subsolar C/O ratio. The viability of a planet with such high-metallicity is questioned, and alternative scenarios to increase electron density are proposed.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
F. Yan, A. Reiners, E. Palle, D. Shulyak, M. Stangret, K. Molaverdikhani, L. Nortmann, P. Molliere, Th Henning, N. Casasayas-Barris, D. Cont, G. Chen, S. Czesla, A. Sanchez-Lopez, M. Lopez-Puertas, I Ribas, A. Quirrenbach, J. A. Caballero, P. J. Amado, D. Galadi-Enriquez, S. Khalafinejad, L. M. Lara, D. Montes, G. Morello, E. Nagel, E. Sedaghati, M. R. Zapatero Osorio, M. Zechmeister
Summary: This study presents high-resolution thermal emission spectroscopy of the transiting Ultra-hot Jupiter (UHJ) KELT-20b/MASCARA-2b. By using the CARMENES spectrograph, the researchers detected atomic Fe in the atmosphere and determined a strong temperature inversion on the dayside hemisphere. The joint retrieval of the CARMENES and TESS data demonstrates the effectiveness of combining high-resolution emission spectroscopy with secondary eclipse photometry in characterizing atmospheric temperature structures.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
L. Fossati, G. Guilluy, I. F. Shaikhislamov, I Carleo, F. Borsa, A. S. Bonomo, P. Giacobbe, M. Rainer, C. Cecchi-Pestellini, M. L. Khodachenko, M. A. Efimov, M. S. Rumenskikh, I. B. Miroshnichenko, A. G. Berezutsky, V Nascimbeni, M. Brogi, A. F. Lanza, L. Mancini, L. Affer, S. Benatti, K. Biazzo, A. Bignamini, D. Carosati, R. Claudi, R. Cosentino, E. Covino, S. Desidera, A. Fiorenzano, A. Harutyunyan, A. Maggio, L. Malavolta, J. Maldonado, G. Micela, E. Molinari, I Pagano, M. Pedani, G. Piotto, E. Poretti, G. Scandariato, A. Sozzetti, H. Stoev
Summary: We observed and modeled the atmospheric absorption of metastable HeI in the hot Jupiter WASP-80b, but did not find any signature of planetary absorption. The low He to H abundance ratio in WASP-80b and other planets suggests the presence of physical mechanisms capable of modifying the He to H content in the upper atmosphere of hot Jupiters.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Davide Grassi, A. Mura, G. Sindoni, A. Adriani, S. K. Atreya, G. Filacchione, L. N. Fletcher, J. Lunine, M. L. Moriconi, R. Noschese, G. S. Orton, C. Plainaki, R. Sordini, F. Tosi, D. Turrini, A. Olivieri, G. Eichstadt, C. J. Hansen, H. Melin, F. Altieri, A. Cicchetti, B. M. Dinelli, A. Migliorini, G. Piccioni, S. Stefani, S. J. Bolton
Summary: Our study analyzed the ammonia content, cloud altitude, and cloud opacity in Jupiter's upper troposphere. Results show differences in ammonia relative humidity and cloud characteristics between belts and zones, consistent with the previously proposed Hadley-type circulation scheme.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Correction
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Arrate Antunano, Richard G. Cosentino, Leigh N. Fletcher, Amy A. Simon, Thomas K. Greathouse, Glenn S. Orton
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Leigh N. Fletcher, Ravit Helled, Elias Roussos, Geraint Jones, Sebastien Charnoz, Nicolas Andre, David Andrews, Michele Bannister, Emma Bunce, Thibault Cavalie, Francesca Ferri, Jonathan Fortney, Davide Grassi, Lea Griton, Paul Hartogh, Ricardo Hueso, Yohai Kaspi, Laurent Lamy, Adam Masters, Henrik Melin, Julianne Moses, Oliver Mousis, Nadine Nettleman, Christina Plainaki, Jurgen Schmidt, Amy Simon, Gabriel Tobie, Paolo Tortora, Federico Tosi, Diego Turrini
Summary: The distant Ice Giants Uranus and Neptune are the least explored environments in our Solar System, with an international partnership mission proposed for the early 2030s. This mission could shape the paradigm for planetary formation throughout our galaxy.
EXPERIMENTAL ASTRONOMY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Amy A. Simon, Michael H. Wong, Lawrence A. Sromovsky, Leigh N. Fletcher, Patrick M. Fry
Summary: Observations of the giant planets have been limited to infrequent robotic spacecraft missions, but the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based telescopes with adaptive optics have provided high-resolution imaging and long-term monitoring. These observations have allowed for in-depth studies of the clouds, winds, and atmospheric structure, as well as comparisons between different planets and regions. Temporal variations in various aspects of the atmospheres have been measured, and future facilities will further enhance our understanding of atmospheric evolution on these planets.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
P. G. J. Irwin, N. A. Teanby, L. N. Fletcher, D. Toledo, G. S. Orton, M. H. Wong, M. T. Roman, S. Perez-Hoyos, A. James, J. Dobinson
Summary: This article presents a reanalysis of visible/near-infrared observations of Uranus and Neptune, revealing a common model of the vertical aerosol distribution and providing a simulation of the spectral characteristics of dark spots.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Julianne Moses, Zarah L. Brown, Tommi T. Koskinen, Leigh N. Fletcher, Joseph Serigano, Sandrine Guerlet, Luke Moore, J. Hunter Waite, Lotfi Ben-Jaffel, Marina Galand, Joshua M. Chadney, Sarah M. Horst, James A. Sinclair, Veronique Vuitton, Ingo Muller-Wodarg
Summary: During the Grand Finale stage of the Cassini mission, researchers discovered the flow of organic-rich ring material into Saturn's equatorial upper atmosphere. Through photochemical models, they studied the impact of this material on the composition of Saturn's atmosphere. However, observations did not confirm the predicted chemical consequences, leading to the conclusion that the ring influx may have been a transient event triggered by a recent dynamical event or that the material entered the atmosphere in the form of small dust particles.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Oliver King, Leigh N. N. Fletcher
Summary: Maps of Ganymede's surface composition reveal that water ice dominates in bright terrain while low-albedo spectrally flat material is prevalent in dark terrain. Ice grain size varies with latitude and longitude gradients, indicating the influence of thermal gradient and radiation driven sputtering. Sulfuric acid has low abundance and appears to be spatially correlated with plasma bombardment.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
James S. D. Blake, L. N. Fletcher, G. S. Orton, A. Antunano, M. T. Roman, Y. Kasaba, T. Fujiyoshi, H. Melin, D. Bardet, J. A. Sinclair, M. Es-Sayeh
Summary: Ground-based mid-infrared images of Saturn over a multi-decade period reveal seasonal and non-seasonal variability in thermal emission. 8-m class observatories can resolve thermal contrasts on various scales and confirm the consistency of Saturn's thermal structure from year to year. However, inter-annual variations are observed in the equatorial banding, suggesting the influence of tropospheric meteorology.
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Leigh N. Fletcher, Thibault Cavalie, Davide Grassi, Ricardo Hueso, Luisa M. Lara, Yohai Kaspi, Eli Galanti, Thomas K. Greathouse, Philippa M. Molyneux, Marina Galand, Claire Vallat, Olivier Witasse, Rosario Lorente, Paul Hartogh, Francois Poulet, Yves Langevin, Pasquale Palumbo, G. Randall Gladstone, Kurt D. Retherford, Michele K. Dougherty, Jan-Erik Wahlund, Stas Barabash, Luciano Iess, Lorenzo Bruzzone, Hauke Hussmann, Leonid I. Gurvits, Ondrej Santolik, Ivana Kolmasova, Georg Fischer, Ingo Mueller-Wodarg, Giuseppe Piccioni, Thierry Fouchet, Jean-Claude Gerard, Agustin Sanchez-Lavega, Patrick G. J. Irwin, Denis Grodent, Francesca Altieri, Alessandro Mura, Pierre Drossart, Josh Kammer, Rohini Giles, Stephanie Cazaux, Geraint Jones, Maria Smirnova, Emmanuel Lellouch, Alexander S. Medvedev, Raphael Moreno, Ladislav Rezac, Athena Coustenis, Marc Costa
Summary: ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will conduct a detailed investigation of the Jovian system in the 2030s, utilizing state-of-the-art instruments and a tailored orbital tour. The mission aims to gather information on the climate, meteorology, and chemistry of Jupiter's atmosphere and auroras, as well as studying phenomena on various timescales. The remote sensing payload includes spectroscopy, imaging, and sounding techniques, allowing for a comprehensive characterization of the planet's atmosphere and auroras.
SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samantha K. K. Trumbo, Michael E. E. Brown, Dominique Bockelee-Morvan, Imke de Pater, Thierry Fouchet, Michael H. H. Wong, Stephanie Cazaux, Leigh N. Fletcher, Katherine de Kleer, Emmanuel Lellouch, Alessandro Mura, Olivier Poch, Eric Quirico, Pablo Rodriguez-Ovalle, Mark R. R. Showalter, Matthew S. S. Tiscareno, Federico Tosi
Summary: Ganymede, the only satellite with an intrinsic magnetic field, experiences interactions with the Jovian magnetosphere, resulting in the accumulation of charged particles in its polar regions. Observations with JWST have revealed the presence of hydrogen peroxide, a product of radiolysis, at high latitudes, indicating the modification of polar caps by precipitation of Jovian charged particles along partially open field lines within Ganymede's magnetosphere. This discovery, along with the contrasting distribution of hydrogen peroxide on Europa, has important implications for understanding water-ice radiolysis in the solar system.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Brandon Park Coy, Conor A. Nixon, Naomi Rowe-Gurney, Richard Achterberg, Nicholas A. Lombardo, Leigh N. Fletcher, Patrick Irwin
Summary: This work presents the first infrared spectra of Titan obtained from the Spitzer Space Telescope. The data includes emissions of various molecules such as CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, C3H4, C3H6, C3H8, C4H2, HCN, HC3N, and CO2. Comparisons with the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) reveal discrepancies in the observations, suggesting the need for further analysis.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
P. G. J. Irwin, J. Dobinson, A. James, M. H. Wong, L. N. Fletcher, M. T. Roman, N. A. Teanby, D. Toledo, G. S. Orton, S. Perez-Hoyos, A. Sanchez-Lavega, A. Simon, R. Morales-Juberias, I. de Pater
Summary: Spectral observations of Neptune in 2019 reveal spatial variations in aerosol scattering properties and methane abundance in the planet's atmosphere. The darkening of certain features in the atmosphere is due to spectrally dependent darkening of particles in a deep aerosol layer, while bright zones at longer wavelengths are attributed to brightening of particles in the same aerosol layer. The properties of an upper methane/haze aerosol layer remain constant with latitude, and variations in an upper tropospheric haze layer account for changes in reflectivity at methane-absorbing wavelengths.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Michael T. Roman, Leigh N. Fletcher, Glenn S. Orton, Thomas K. Greathouse, Julianne I. Moses, Naomi Rowe-Gurney, Patrick G. J. Irwin, Arrate Antunano, James Sinclair, Yasumasa Kasaba, Takuya Fujiyoshi, Imke de Pater, Heidi B. Hammel
Summary: This study analyzes all currently available ground-based imaging data of Neptune in the mid-infrared and reveals significant subseasonal variation in the stratosphere. The observations show changes in stratospheric temperature and provide strong evidence for subseasonal processes on both global and regional scales in Neptune's atmosphere.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Oliver King, Leigh N. Fletcher, Nicolas Ligier
Summary: This study presents surface composition maps of Europa's anti-Jovian hemisphere, obtained using high spatial resolution IFU multispectral data. Spectral modeling and Monte Carlo method were employed to estimate endmember abundances and uncertainties. The results support the difference in hydrated sulfuric acid abundances between the leading and trailing hemisphere. Water-ice grains were found in the range of 100 μm to 1 mm, with larger grains on the trailing hemisphere. The study highlights the importance of high spatial resolution for mapping small-scale spatial distribution of potential species.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pranika Gupta, Sushil K. Atreya, Paul G. Steffes, Leigh N. Fletcher, Tristan Guillot, Michael D. Allison, Scott J. Bolton, Ravit Helled, Steven Levin, Cheng Li, Jonathan I. Lunine, Yamila Miguel, Glenn S. Orton, J. Hunter Waite, Paul Withers
Summary: The study electronically digitized all available temperature profiles from Voyager spacecraft to find corrected temperature values at the 1-bar level for Jupiter, showing a difference of up to 4K compared to previously published values. This suggests spatial variability in Jupiter's tropospheric temperatures of up to 7K between latitudes 7 degrees N and 12 degrees S.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)