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
    C70 Fullerene charge-transfer interaction with alkylnaphthalenes, pinenes, and a diene
    Alkylnaphthalenes are not able to form Diels-Alder adducts with C70 fullerene but selected alkylnaphthalenes are able to yield weak charge-transfer complexes...
  • Publication
    Charge-transfer interaction between C60 fullerene and alkylnaphthalenes
    A series of alkylnaphthalenes, namely 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, 2,6-diethylnaphthalene, 2-ethylnaphthalene and pure naphthalene are not able to form Diels-Alder...
  • Publication
    Equinox in Petra: Land- and Skyscape in the Nabataean Capital
    In earlier works, we had shown the actual possibility that the Nabataeans had used the Equinox, or an astronomical event equivalent to this, as an important...
  • Talk
    Molecular Astrophysics
    We discuss the role and significance of molecules in the modern astrophysics. Molecular opacities govern the structure of model atmospheres of late-type stars...
  • Event
    #AsteroidDay 2020
    For the past four years, Asteroid Day has been celebrated on 30 June to make society aware of the potential risk of asteroid impacts on the Earth and to learn...
  • Publication
    (596) Scheila in Outburst: A Probable Collision Event in the Main Asteroid Belt
    Images of asteroid (596) Scheila have been acquired at various dates after the discovery of the 2010 outburst. Assuming a short-duration event scenario, as...
  • Publication
    (65) Cybele: detection of small silicate grains, water-ice, and organics
    Context. (65) Cybele is the most representative member of a population of primitive asteroids in the outer edge of the main belt, the Cybele asteroids. Recent...
  • Publication
    12C/13C isotopic ratios in red-giant stars of the open cluster NGC 6791
    Carbon isotope ratios, along with carbon and nitrogen abundances, are derived in a sample of 11 red-giant members of one of the most metal-rich clusters in the...
  • News
    2023 DZ2 asteroid will not collide with Earth, study finds
    An international scientific team, in which researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) participate, confirms that the asteroid, discovered...