Site Map
Contacts
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter YouTube channel
Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

Towards the detection of optical reflected light from other worlds

N. C. Santos

Abstract.
We present and discuss on the prospects of detecting the reflected light from a short period extra-solar planet using high resolution spectroscopy. In particular, we explore the use of the cross-correlation technique to derive the spectral S/N needed to detect the reflected light spectrum of an Earth-like planet orbiting another sun. We show that its detection is possible with a high-resolution spectrograph mounted on the E-ELT. Such a detection will allow to derive the planetary geometric albedo and its orbital velocity, allowing thus to estimate the real mass of the planet even in cases where a transit has not been detected.

Shaping E-ELT Science and Instrumentation Workshop
Garching, Germany
February 2013

Type: Oral comunication

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

Proceed on CAUP's website|Go to IA website