Exploring 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.

Tutorial: Cloudy/hazy atmospheres

Spectrum Tool. How do the models predict that different atmospheric conditions affect an exoplanet spectrum?

Spectrum Notebook. Once you’ve completed the tutorial, go to the Tutorial: Modeling Exoplanet Atmospheres section and answer the following questions:

  1. Clear vs Cloudy: How would you compare the width and depth of the absorption features in the Clear Hot Jupiter Model vs the predicted model for a Cloudy Hot Jupiter? How might you explain why clouds could cause this difference?
  2. Hazy vs Clear: How would you compare the overall slope of the spectrum (from shorter to longer wavelengths) in the Hazy Hot Jupiter Model vs the predicted model for a Clear Hot Jupiter?
Source 1:
Exoplanet Models — Clear Hot Jupiter Model Transmission
Brightness
Full-intensity spectrum backgroundTransparency increases or decreases based on chart intensity, hiding or revealing the background
Left axis ticks
Spectrum intensity vs wavelength chart

Different atmospheric conditions — such as Clouds — can change how individual spectral signatures appear, including the width and depth of specific absorption features.

Bottom axis ticks
Wavelength (Microns)
Source 2:
Exoplanet Models — Cloudy Hot Jupiter Model Transmission
Brightness
Full-intensity spectrum backgroundTransparency increases or decreases based on chart intensity, hiding or revealing the background
Left axis ticks
Spectrum intensity vs wavelength chart
Bottom axis ticks
Wavelength (Microns)