Start year
2013
Organizational Unit
Organizing institutions
Grants related:
General
Description
The search for life in the universe has been driven by recent discoveries of planets around other stars (known as exoplanets), becoming one of the most active fields in modern astrophysics. The growing number of new exoplanets discovered in recent years and the recent advance on the study of their atmospheres are not only providing new valuable information about its physical properties, but also allowing to constrain the properties of the Solar system's planets within a more global context. The field is approaching to the important discovery of the first potentially habitable planets and encouraging more detailed studies of them. With the launching of upcoming related satellites like JWST, CHEOPS, TESS, ARIEL and PLATO, the exoplanets field faces a bright future.
It is for this reason that this field is aid of, and at the same time promotes, the development of increasingly sensitive and stable instrumentation for both, ground-based telescopes and space missions. Our group is particularly prepared for these two fronts. On the one hand, during the last years we have developed observational and reduction techniques of exoplanet transits data for the ORM telescopes, ours being one of the most productive groups in the exploitation of GTC. On the other hand, all ESA space missions (present and future) related to exoplanets have one or more components of the project as CoIs. Within the frame of this project, we intend that IAC researchers maintain an advantageous position regarding the operation of OSIRIS and CanariCam, first light
GTC's instruments, and participate in the construction, commissioning and operation of new instruments such as the high resolution optical spectrograph HORUS at GTC. The exploitation of the photometry and spectroscopy of transits with LIRIS at WHT is also one of our principal interests, especially in preparation for the installation in 2015 of EMIR on the GTC .
To summarize, the project "Exoplanets and Astrobiology" will focus on these four action lines:
1) The characterization of atmospheric and physical properties of exoplanets (GTC, WHT, ARIEL, HARPSN, CARMENES, ESPRESSO, etc. ..)
2) The search and confirmation of exoplanets by transits techniques (CoRoT, Kepler, K2, CHEOPS, XO, LCOGT, W FC, DISH, etc. ..)
3) The search and confirmation of exoplanet by radial velocity techniques (HARPSN, HORUS, LCOGT, SONG, CARMENES)
4) Astrobiology
Members
Principal investigator
Enric
Pallé Bago
Project staff
Hans Jörg
Deeg Deeg
Nicolas Cédric
Lodieu
Javier Andrés
Licandro Goldaracena
Víctor Javier
Sánchez Bejar
Juan Antonio
Belmonte Avilés
Roi
Alonso Sobrino
Grzegorz
Nowak
Patricia
Chinchilla Gallego
A. L. Cabrera Lavers
Felipe Andrés
Murgas Alcaino
Hannu
Parviainen
Collaborators
Dr.
Paulo Miles Paez
Dr.
Maria Rosa Zapatero Osorio
Dr.
M. Mas Hesse
Dr.
M. Deleuil
Dr.
D. Gandolfi
Dr.
M. Fridlund
Dr.
L. Doyle
Dr.
H. Rauer
Dr.
J. Cabrera
Dr.
Sz. Csizmadia
Dr.
D. Pollacco
Dr.
A. Hatzes
Dr.
T. Mazeh
Dr.
T. Boyajian
Dr.
B. Tingley
Dr.
D. Martin
Dr.
A Triaud
Dr.
D. Fabrycky
Antonio Cabrera Lavers
Results
- Detection of He in the atmosphere of an exoplanet from the ground, published in Science
- Detection of a super-earth around Barnard star, published in Nature
- Detection of the first TESS planets, with several papers of high relevance
- Discovery of Na and Halpha features in the spectrum of KELT-20b with TNG
- Publication of the Handbook of Exoplanets, the most extensive work of reference in the field of exoplanets. The Handbook was edited by members of our group, and includes contributions by about 300 experts worldwide, including 12 members of IAC.
Scientific activity
Related publications
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Multicolour photometry for exoplanet candidate validationContext. The TESS and PLATO missions are expected to find vast numbers of new transiting planet candidates. However, only a fraction of these candidates will be legitimate planets, and the candidate validation will require a significant amount of follow-up resources. Radial velocity (RV) follow-up study can be carried out only for the mostParviainen, H. et al.
Advertised on:
102019 -
K2-295 b and K2-237 b: Two Transiting Hot JupitersWe report the discovery from K2 of two transiting hot Jupiter systems. K2-295 (observed in Campaign 8) is a K5 dwarf which hosts a planet slightly smaller than Jupiter, orbiting with a period of 4.0 d. We have made an independent discovery of K2-237 b (Campaign 11), which orbits an F9 dwarf every 2.2 d and has an inflated radius 60-70% larger thanSmith, A. M. S. et al.
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62019 -
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Photospheric parameters of target stars from high-resolution spectroscopy. II. Simultaneous multiwavelength range modeling of activity insensitive linesWe present precise photospheric parameters of 282 M dwarfs determined from fitting the most recent version of PHOENIX models to high-resolution CARMENES spectra in the visible (0.52-0.96 μm) and NIR wavelength range (0.96-1.71 μm). With its aim to search for habitable planets around M dwarfs, several planets of different masses have been detectedPassegger, V. M. et al.
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72019 -
Atmospheric characterization of the ultra-hot Jupiter MASCARA-2b/KELT-20b. Detection of CaII, FeII, NaI, and the Balmer series of H (Hα, Hβ, and Hγ) with high-dispersion transit spectroscopyUltra-hot Jupiters orbit very close to their host star and consequently receive strong irradiation, causing their atmospheric chemistry to be different from the common gas giants. Here, we have studied the atmosphere of one of these particular hot planets, MASCARA-2b/KELT-20b, using four transit observations with high resolution spectroscopyCasasayas-Barris, N. et al.
Advertised on:
82019 -
Planetary system around the nearby M dwarf GJ 357 including a transiting, hot, Earth-sized planet optimal for atmospheric characterizationWe report the detection of a transiting Earth-size planet around GJ 357, a nearby M2.5 V star, using data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). GJ 357 b (TOI-562.01) is a transiting, hot, Earth-sized planet (Teq = 525 ± 11 K) with a radius of Rb = 1.217 ± 0.084 R⊕ and an orbital period of Pb = 3.93 d. Precise stellar radialLuque, R. et al.
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82019 -
Greening of the brown-dwarf desert. EPIC 212036875b: a 51 MJ object in a 5-day orbit around an F7 V starContext. Although more than 2000 brown dwarfs have been detected to date, mainly from direct imaging, their characterisation is difficult due to their faintness and model-dependent results. In the case of transiting brown dwarfs, however, it is possible to make direct high-precision observations. Aims: Our aim is to investigate the nature andPersson, Carina M. et al.
Advertised on:
82019 -
A 5D view of the α Per, Pleiades, and Praesepe clustersAims: Our scientific goal is to provide revised membership lists of the α Per, Pleiades, and Praesepe clusters exploiting the second data release of Gaia and produce five-dimensional maps (α, δ, π, μα cos δ, μδ) of these clusters. Methods: We implemented the kinematic method combined with the statistical treatment of parallaxes and proper motionsLodieu, N. et al.
Advertised on:
82019 -
TOI-216b and TOI-216 c: Two Warm, Large Exoplanets in or Slightly Wide of the 2:1 Orbital ResonanceWarm, large exoplanets with 10–100 day orbital periods pose a major challenge to our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve. Although high eccentricity tidal migration has been invoked to explain their proximity to their host stars, a handful reside in or near orbital resonance with nearby planets, suggesting a gentler history of inDawson, Rebekah I. et al.
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82019 -
Stellar activity analysis of Barnard's Star: very slow rotation and evidence for long-term activity cycleThe search for Earth-like planets around late-type stars using ultrastable spectrographs requires a very precise characterization of the stellar activity and the magnetic cycle of the star, since these phenomena induce radial velocity (RV) signals that can be misinterpreted as planetary signals. Among the nearby stars, we have selected Barnard'sToledo-Padrón, B. et al.
Advertised on:
102019 -
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Detection of a mini-Neptune around LSPM J2116+0234 and refinement of orbital parameters of a super-Earth around GJ 686 (BD+18 3421)Although M dwarfs are known for high levels of stellar activity, they are ideal targets for the search of low-mass exoplanets with the radial velocity (RV) method. We report the discovery of a planetary-mass companion around LSPM J2116+0234 (M3.0 V) and confirm the existence of a planet orbiting GJ 686 (BD+18 3421; M1.0 V). The discovery of theLalitha, S. et al.
Advertised on:
72019 -
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Two temperate Earth-mass planet candidates around Teegarden's StarContext. Teegarden's Star is the brightest and one of the nearest ultra-cool dwarfs in the solar neighbourhood. For its late spectral type (M7.0 V), the star shows relatively little activity and is a prime target for near-infrared radial velocity surveys such as CARMENES. Aims: As part of the CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs, weZechmeister, M. et al.
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72019 -
The L 98-59 System: Three Transiting, Terrestrial-size Planets Orbiting a Nearby M DwarfWe report the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) discovery of three terrestrial-size planets transiting L 98-59 (TOI-175, TIC 307210830)—a bright M dwarf at a distance of 10.6 pc. Using the Gaia-measured distance and broadband photometry, we find that the host star is an M3 dwarf. Combined with the TESS transits from three sectors, theKostov, Veselin B. et al.
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72019 -
Stellar activity and rotation of the planet host Kepler-17 from long-term space-borne photometryContext. The study of young Sun-like stars is fundamental to understanding the magnetic activity and rotational evolution of the Sun. Space-borne photometry by the Kepler telescope provides unprecedented datasets to investigate these phenomena in Sun-like stars. Aims: We present a new analysis of the entire Kepler photometric time series of theLanza, A. F. et al.
Advertised on:
62019 -
Magnetic fields in M dwarfs from the CARMENES surveyContext. M dwarfs are known to generate the strongest magnetic fields among main-sequence stars with convective envelopes, but we are still lacking a consistent picture of the link between the magnetic fields and underlying dynamo mechanisms, rotation, and activity. Aims: In this work we aim to measure magnetic fields from the high-resolution nearShulyak, D. et al.
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62019 -
Temporal changes of the flare activity of Proxima CentauriContext. We study temporal variations of the emission lines of Hα, Hɛ, H and K CaII, D1 and D2 NaI, He4026, and He5876 in the HARPS spectra of Proxima Centauri across an extended time of 13.2 yr, from May 27, 2004 to September 30, 2017. Aims: We analyse the common behaviour and differences in the intensities and profiles of different emission linesPavlenko, Ya. V. et al.
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62019 -
A low-mass triple system with a wide L/T transition brown dwarf component: NLTT 51469AB/SDSS 2131-0119We demonstrate that the previously identified L/T transition brown dwarf SDSS J213154.43-011939.3 (SDSS 2131-0119) is a widely separated (82{^''.}3, ˜3830 au) common proper motion companion to the low-mass star NLTT 51469, which we reveal to be a close binary itself, separated by 0{^''.}64 ± 0{^''.}01 (˜30 au). We find the proper motion of SDSSGauza, B. et al.
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72019 -
The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. Different roads to radii and masses of the target starsAims: We determine the radii and masses of 293 nearby, bright M dwarfs of the CARMENES survey. This is the first time that such a large and homogeneous high-resolution (R > 80 000) spectroscopic survey has been used to derive these fundamental stellar parameters. Methods: We derived the radii using Stefan-Boltzmann's law. We obtained the requiredSchweitzer, A. et al.
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52019 -
The Transiting Multi-planet System HD15337: Two Nearly Equal-mass Planets Straddling the Radius GapWe report the discovery of a super-Earth and a sub-Neptune transiting the star HD 15337 (TOI-402, TIC 120896927), a bright (V = 9) K1 dwarf observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in Sectors 3 and 4. We combine the TESS photometry with archival High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher spectra to confirm the planetaryGandolfi, Davide et al.
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52019 -
Qatar Exoplanet Survey: Qatar-8b, 9b, and 10b—A Hot Saturn and Two Hot JupitersIn this paper we present three new extrasolar planets from the Qatar Exoplanet Survey. Qatar-8b is a hot Saturn, with M P = 0.37 M J and R P = 1.3 R J, orbiting a solar-like star every P orb = 3.7 days. Qatar-9b is a hot Jupiter with a mass of M P = 1.2 M J and a radius of R P = 1 R J, in an orbit of P orb = 1.5 days around a low mass, M ⋆ = 0.7 MAlsubai, Khalid et al.
Advertised on:
62019 -
Proxima Centauri b is not a transiting exoplanetWe report Spitzer Space Telescope observations during predicted transits of the exoplanet Proxima Centauri b. As the nearest terrestrial habitable-zone planet we will ever discover, any potential transit of Proxima b would place strong constraints on its radius, bulk density, and atmosphere. Subsequent transmission spectroscopy and secondaryJenkins, James S. et al.
Advertised on:
72019
