Lines of research: Exoplanetary Systems & Solar System (SEYSS)

Exoplanetary Systems & Solar System (SEYSS)

The area of planetary and solar systems involves several research groups working on Exoplanets, Solar System and Cultural Astronomy. Our main objectives are:

  • The detection and characterization of giant and rocky planets around nearby stars using the most advanced instruments (CARMENES, ESPRESSO, HARPS Norte y Sur, SONG, LCO, MUSCAT2) and space missions (CoRoT, Kepler K2, CHEOPS, TESS and PLATO). The group is particularly interested in the study of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone of their host stars where water can be in liquid form.
  • The characterization of the atmospheres of planets to know their structure and composition, both by transits and direct imaging, using ground-based telescopes such as GTC and space missions such as CHEOPS.
  • Investigate the formation of exoplanet systems by studying the chemical composition of planet host stars, and the dynamical evolution of exoplanets at their early stages of formation.
  • Study the physical properties of different families of minor bodies of the Solar System (asteroids, comets, trans-neptunian objects, etc.) to understand the origin and evolution of Solar System with GTC and space missions such as OSIRIS-REx.
  • The study of ancient cosmologies through cultural astronomy and the defense of cultural heritage through the astronomy.
  • Publication
    An ultra-short-period super-Earth with an extremely high density and an outer companion
    We present the discovery and characterization of a new multi-planetary system around the Sun-like star K2-360 (EPIC 201595106). K2-360 was first identified in...
  • Publication
    An ultra-short-period transiting super-Earth orbiting the M3 dwarf TOI-1685
    Dynamical histories of planetary systems, as well as the atmospheric evolution of highly irradiated planets, can be studied by characterizing the ultra-short...
  • Publication
    An ultrahot Neptune in the Neptune desert
    About 1 out of 200 Sun-like stars has a planet with an orbital period shorter than one day: an ultrashort-period planet 1,2. All of the previously known...
  • Publication
    An ultraviolet spectral study of fullerene-rich planetary nebulae
    Several planetary nebulae (PNe) have been found to contain both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH-like) species and fullerenes (C 60) distinguished by their...
  • Publication
    An unusually low-density super-Earth transiting the bright early-type M-dwarf GJ 1018 (TOI-244)
    Context. Small planets located at the lower mode of the bimodal radius distribution are generally assumed to be composed of iron and silicates in a proportion...
  • Publication
    Analysis in the visible range of NASA Lucy mission targets: Eurybates, Polymele, Orus and Donaldjohanson.
    Jupiter Trojan asteroids are minor bodies that share Jupiter's orbit around the Sun. Although not yet well understood in origin and composition, they have...
  • Publication
    Analysis of Early Science observations with the CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite (CHEOPS) using PYCHEOPS
    CHEOPS (CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite) is an ESA S-class mission that observes bright stars at high cadence from low-Earth orbit. The main aim of the...
  • Gallery
    Animations eclipses, transits and alignments
    Animations made at the IAC between 2000 and 2007
  • Publication
    Anomalously porous boulders on (162173) Ryugu as primordial materials from its parent body
    Planetesimals—the initial stage of the planetary formation process—are considered to be initially very porous aggregates of dusts 1,2, and subsequent thermal...