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
    The CHEOPS view of the climate of WASP-3 b
    Context. Hot Jupiters are giant planets subject to intense stellar radiation. The physical and chemical properties of their atmosphere make them the most...
  • News
    The comet NEOWISE from the Canaries
    During the month of July we will be able to see comet c/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) with the naked eye from the Canaries and from the Peninsula.
  • Publication
    The compact multi-planet system GJ 9827 revisited with ESPRESSO★
    GJ 9827 is a bright, nearby K7V star orbited by two super-Earths and one mini-Neptune on close-in orbits. The system was first discovered using K2 data and then...
  • News
    The conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn: astronomical event of the year
    The astronomical event of the year took place on December 21st, a very close conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn which was broadcast on Internet in the channel of...
  • Grant
    The connection earth- exoearths Cheops, Carmenes, Plato
  • Publication
    The Continuing Search for Evidence of Tidal Orbital Decay of Hot Jupiters
    Many of the known hot Jupiters are formally unstable to tidal orbital decay. The only hot Jupiter for which orbital decay has been directly detected is WASP-12...
  • Publication
    The contribution of N-rich stars to the Galactic stellar halo using APOGEE red giants
    The contribution of dissolved globular clusters (GCs) to the stellar content of the Galactic halo is a key constraint on models for GC formation and destruction...
  • Publication
    The CORALIE survey for southern extrasolar planets. XVII. New and updated long period and massive planets
    Context. Since 1998, a planet-search program around main sequence stars within 50 pc in the southern hemisphere has been carried out with the CORALIE echelle...
  • Publication
    The Correlation between Mixing Length and Metallicity on the Giant Branch: Implications for Ages in the Gaia Era
    In the updated APOGEE-Kepler catalog, we have asteroseismic and spectroscopic data for over 3000 first ascent red giants. Given the size and accuracy of this...