Other final projects
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.Proposal to NASA Part 1: About JWST
Imagine you are an Exoplanet Researcher! You will create a hypothetical proposal to NASA to observe a planet of your choice using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
JWST, which launched in late 2021, can collect higher resolution spectra at infrared wavelengths from 0.6 to 28 microns, making it well-suited for exoplanet research. (These wavelengths are where many interesting molecules have absorption features, and where planets give off thermal emission.)
Spectrum Tool. Compare older exoplanet spectra from HST and Spitzer with newer observations from JWST.
- Under Source 1, select the HST/Spitzer spectrum for one of the exoplanets.
- Under the Source 2 Exoplanets category, select the JWST spectrum for the same planet. Compare the two spectra and answer questions 2 and 3 in your Notebook.
- Under Source 2, view different comparison spectra for Atoms and Molecules or Exoplanet Models. Use the comparison spectra to answer question 4 in your Notebook.
Spectrum Notebook. Answer these questions in your Notebook.
- Which exoplanet did you select?
- Identify 1-2 similarities between the HST/Spitzer and JWST spectra for your planet.
- Identify 1-2 differences between the HST/Spitzer and JWST spectra for your planet.
- What conclusion about the exoplanet’s atmosphere can you draw from the JWST data that might be new or stronger than what you could draw from the HST/Spitzer data alone?
Source 1:
Brightness 
Wavelength (microns) Source 2:
Brightness Wavelength (microns)