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.You’re the Exoplanet Researcher! What exoplanet should NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope study?
Spectrum Tool. Use this workspace to make decisions for your proposal, and to capture screenshots to describe the spectrum features for which you hope to get better data.
Spectrum Notebook. Go to Final Challenge 4. You’re the Researcher in your notebook. Read the instructions for how to write your proposal.
- What target will you propose for? (Choose a planet for which you had more than one “Maybe” in your Exoplanet Features Chart)
- Identify 2 regions of the spectrum for which you would like higher resolution data from JWST, and explain what that data will help you discover or confirm about your planet (remember, JWST has capabilities from .6 microns to 28 microns)
- Paste two screenshots of the existing spectral data for your exoplanet target, compared with the closest model atmosphere or with a particular molecule, or with a solar system planet, to illustrate the information you’ve described in Question 2. Provide a caption for each screenshot. (If you’re able to annotate the screenshot to point out features, that will be helpful to the proposal reviewers ;)
Spectrum Notebook. Putting it all together.
- Write a paragraph that describes:
- The target planet you are proposing to observe,
- How JWST spectra will help you make discoveries about the exoplanet,
- Why this science research is important
Source 1:
Brightness 
Wavelength (Microns) Source 2:
Brightness Wavelength (Microns)