Exeter Exoplanet Workshop

15-17 September 2008

Measuring the atmospheric spectrum of extrasolar planets

02/10/08: Dartmoor photos now online


For more see Carole's flickr set

All presentations are available online here. Please note some sensitive material has been removed from some presentations.

Rationale

Measuring the spectrum of Earth-like planets in search for atmospheric bio-markers is one of the great objectives of astrophysics in the next generation. We have now come to the point of measuring spectral features in nearby transiting hot Jupiters.

The objective of this meeting was to share experience and viewpoints on the current status and prospect of this topic, from the observational viewpoint. In particular:

• instrumental systematics in space transmission and emission spectroscopic data (HST, Spitzer) and how to deal with them,
• which observations provide most useful constraints
• atmospheric features and evolution of rock/ice planets
• re-assessment of prospects for habitable exoplanet spectroscopy in light of new results (JWST, dedicated missions)
• synergy with (Solar-System) Planetology
• the Earth's climate in the context of extra-solar planets

The workshop was organised by Frederic Pont and Suzanne Aigrain, University of Exeter, School of Physics, Astrophysics Group.

The number of participants was approximately 30, and the program was a mixture of (mostly invited) talks with considerable time for discussion.