Explore Exoplanet Atmospheres

Investigate the atmospheres of planets outside our solar system, then make a pitch for what exoplanet spectra you’d like to capture with the James Webb Space Telescope.

Capturing Spectra Part 1: Exoplanets & Light Interactions

Investigate. This diagram shows 5 light paths that are associated with different interactions between starlight and the exoplanet. Match the letter of the light paths with the phenomena in the table below.

  1. Match the letter of the light paths with the type of spectrum.
  2. Identify the source of the photons in each case.
  3. Describe the path of the photons, and identify what they are interacting with in each case.

Spectrum Notebook. Write your answers in the Table in your Notebook.

Note: One row of the table in your Spectrum Notebook is pre-filled as an example of what to do.

Diagram of 5 light paths from a star that are associated with different interactions between starlight and the exoplanet.