Grants related:
General
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
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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Primeval very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs - I. Six new L subdwarfs, classification and atmospheric properties
We have conducted a search for L subdwarf candidates within the photometric catalogues of the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey and Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Six of our candidates are confirmed as L subdwarfs spectroscopically at optical and/or near-infrared wavelengths. We also present new optical spectra of three previously known L subdwarfs (WISEA
Zhang, Z. H. et al.Advertised on:
12017 -
First gravitational-wave burst GW150914: MASTER optical follow-up observations
The Advanced LIGO observatory recently reported the first direct detection of the gravitational waves (GWs) predicted by Einstein & Sitzungsber. We report on the first optical observations of the GW source GW150914 error region with the Global MASTER Robotic Net. Between the optical telescopes of electromagnetic support, the covered area is
Lipunov, V. M. et al.Advertised on:
32017 -
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will search for planets transiting bright and nearby stars. TESS has been selected by NASA for launch in 2017 as an Astrophysics Explorer mission. The spacecraft will be placed into a highly elliptical 13.7-day orbit around the Earth. During its 2-year mission, TESS will employ four wide-field
Ricker, George R. et al.Advertised on:
12015 -
The EChO science case
The discovery of almost two thousand exoplanets has revealed an unexpectedly diverse planet population. We see gas giants in few-day orbits, whole multi-planet systems within the orbit of Mercury, and new populations of planets with masses between that of the Earth and Neptune—all unknown in the Solar System. Observations to date have shown that
Tinetti, Giovanna et al.Advertised on:
122015 -
An eclipsing double-line spectroscopic binary at the stellar/substellar boundary in the Upper Scorpius OB association
Aims: We aim at constraining evolutionary models at low mass and young ages by identifying interesting transiting system members of the nearest OB association to the Sun, Upper Scorpius (USco), which has been targeted by the Kepler mission. Methods: We produced light curves for M-dwarf members of the USco region that has been surveyed during the
Lodieu, N. et al.Advertised on:
122015 -
Transiting exoplanets from the CoRoT space mission⋆. XXVIII. CoRoT-33b, an object in the brown dwarf desert with 2:3 commensurability with its host star
We report the detection of a rare transiting brown dwarf with a mass of 59 MJup and radius of 1.1 RJup around the metal-rich, [Fe/H] = +0.44, G9V star CoRoT-33. The orbit is eccentric (e = 0.07) with a period of 5.82 d. The companion, CoRoT-33b, is thus a new member in the so-called brown dwarf desert. The orbital period is within 3% to a 3:2
Csizmadia, Sz. et al.Advertised on:
122015 -
HD 144548: A young triply eclipsing system in the Upper Scorpius OB association
The star HD 144548 (=HIP 78977; TYP 6212-1273-1) has been known as a detached eclipsing binary and a bona-fide member of the Upper Scorpius OB association. Continuous photometry from the K2 mission on Campaign Two has revealed the presence of additional eclipses due to the presence of a third star in the system. These are explained by a system
Alonso, R. et al.Advertised on:
122015 -
The K2-ESPRINT Project I: Discovery of the Disintegrating Rocky Planet K2-22b with a Cometary Head and Leading Tail
We present the discovery of a transiting exoplanet candidate in the K2 Field-1 with an orbital period of 9.1457 hr: K2-22b. The highly variable transit depths, ranging from ∼0% to 1.3%, are suggestive of a planet that is disintegrating via the emission of dusty effluents. We characterize the host star as an M-dwarf with Teff ≃ 3800 K. We have
Sanchis-Ojeda, R. et al.Advertised on:
102015 -
Tracking Advanced Planetary Systems (TAPAS) with HARPS-N. II. Super Li-rich giant HD 107028
Context. Lithium-rich giant stars are rare objects. For some of them, Li enrichment exceeds the abundance of this element found in solar system meteorites, suggesting that these stars have gone through a Li enhancement process. Aims: We identified a Li-rich giant HD 107028 with A(Li) > 3.3 in a sample of evolved stars observed within the PennState
Adamów, M. et al.Advertised on:
92015 -
VLT X-Shooter spectroscopy of the nearest brown dwarf binary
Aims: The aim of the project is to characterise the two components of the brown dwarf system nearest to the Sun, WISE J104915.57-531906.1 (also called Luhman 16AB) at optical and near-infrared wavelengths. Methods: We obtained high signal-to-noise intermediate-resolution (R ~ 6000-11 000) optical (600-1000 nm) and near-infrared (1000-2480 nm)
Lodieu, N. et al.Advertised on:
92015 -
Rotational modulation of the linear polarimetric variability of the cool dwarf TVLM 513-46546
Aims: We aim to monitor the optical linear polarimetric signal of the magnetized, rapidly rotating M8.5 dwarf TVLM 513-46546. Methods: R- and I-band linear polarimetry images were collected with the Andalucía Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (ALFOSC) instrument of the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) on two consecutive nights, covering
Miles-Páez, P. A. et al.Advertised on:
82015 -
Constraints on the substellar companions in wide orbits around the Barnard's Star from CanariCam mid-infrared imaging
We have performed mid-infrared imaging of Barnard's Star, one of the nearest stars to the Sun, using CanariCam on the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias. We aim to investigate an area within 1-10 arcsec separations, which for the 1.83 pc distance of the star translates to projected orbital separations of 1.8-18 au (P > 12 yr), which have not been
Gauza, B. et al.Advertised on:
92015 -
WASP-14 b: transit timing analysis of 19 light curves
Although WASP-14 b is one of the most massive and densest exoplanets on a tight and eccentric orbit, it has never been a target of photometric follow-up monitoring or dedicated observing campaigns. We report on new photometric transit observations of WASP-14 b obtained within the framework of Transit Timing Variations @ Young Exoplanet Transit
Raetz, St. et al.Advertised on:
82015 -
Optical spectroscopy of candidate Alpha Persei white dwarfs
As part of an investigation into the high-mass end of the initial mass-final mass relation we performed a search for new white dwarf members of the nearby (172.4 pc), young (80-90 Myr) α Persei open star cluster. The photometric and astrometric search using the United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope (UKIRT) Infrared Deep Sky Survey and SuperCOSMOS sky
Casewell, S. L. et al.Advertised on:
82015 -
Transiting exoplanets from the CoRoT space mission. XXVII. CoRoT-28b, a planet orbiting an evolved star, and CoRoT-29b, a planet showing an asymmetric transit
Context. We present the discovery of two transiting extrasolar planets by the satellite CoRoT. Aims: We aim at a characterization of the planetary bulk parameters, which allow us to further investigate the formation and evolution of the planetary systems and the main properties of the host stars. Methods: We used the transit light curve to
Cabrera, J. et al.Advertised on:
72015 -
A search for lithium in metal-poor L dwarfs
Aims: The aim of the project is to search for lithium in absorption at 6707.8 Å to constrain the nature and mass of the brightest low-metallicity L-type dwarfs (referred to as L subdwarfs) identified in large-scale surveys. Methods: We obtained low- to intermediate-resolution (R ~ 2500-9000) optical (~560-770 nm) spectra of two mid-L subdwarfs
Lodieu, N. et al.Advertised on:
72015 -
Using the Rossiter–McLaughlin Effect to Observe the Transmission Spectrum of Earth’s Atmosphere
Due to stellar rotation, the observed radial velocity of a star varies during the transit of a planet across its surface, a phenomenon known as the Rossiter–McLaughlin (RM) effect. The amplitude of the RM effect is related to the radius of the planet which, because of differential absorption in the planetary atmosphere, depends on wavelength
Yan, F. et al.Advertised on:
62015 -
The Earthshine Network: an update 1998-2013
The amount of energy coming into the Earth's climate system is the combination of two parameters: solar constant, and Earth's albedo (or reflectance). Our main goal in this work is to record an absolutely-calibrated global albedo time series. The albedo can be determined by alternative observations of the bright and dark sides of the Moon. The
Martínez-Lombilla, C. et al.Advertised on:
52015 -
Period, epoch, and prediction errors of ephemerides from continuous sets of timing measurements
Space missions such as Kepler and CoRoT have led to large numbers of eclipse or transit measurements in nearly continuous time series. This paper shows how to obtain the period error in such measurements from a basic linear least-squares fit, and how to correctly derive the timing error in the prediction of future transit or eclipse events
Deeg, H. J.Advertised on:
62015 -
Rotationally resolved spectroscopy of dwarf planet (136472) Makemake
Context. Icy dwarf planets are key for studying the chemical and physical states of ices in the outer solar system. The study of secular and rotational variations gives us hints of the processes that contribute to the evolution of their surface. Aims: The aim of this work is to search for rotational variability on the surface composition of the
Lorenzi, V. et al.Advertised on:
52015
