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
fevereiro 2013

Tipo: Comunicação oral