Vast resources have been dedicated to characterizing the handful of planets with radii between Earth’s and Neptune’s that are accessible to current telescopes. Observations of their transmission spectra have been inconclusive and do not constrain the atmospheric composition. Of the ~four small planets studied to date, all have radii in the near-IR consistent with being constant in wavelength, likely showing that these small planets are consistently enshrouded in thick hazes and clouds.
Caroline Morley will explore the types of clouds and hazes that can completely obscure transmission spectra. She will then show the effect that these thick clouds have on the thermal emission and reflected light spectra of small exoplanets. She will also be presenting a path forward for understanding this class of small planets: by understanding the thermal emission and reflectivity of small planets, scientists can potentially break the degeneracies and better constrain the atmospheric compositions.
Getting Under Europa’s Skin
Tracing Formation and Evolution of Outer Solar System Bodies Through Stable Isotopes and Noble Gas Abundances
Photosynthesis, a Planetary Revolution
Xenon: King of the Gases
NAI
