KLD3
Keynote lectures SB and ODAA
Conveners:
Dominique Bockelee-Morvan,
Arianna Piccialli
Title: "TNOs and Centaurs with JWST"
Speaker: Rosario Brunetto
Abstract:
Bodies orbiting the trans-Neptunian regions (TNOs) are windows into Solar System formation, history and evolution. They are remnants from the ancient time of planetary formation in the protoplanetary disk, but they have all been affected to some extent by subsequent dynamical evolution of the Solar System. Before the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the detection of molecules on TNOs has long been limited by the terrestrial atmosphere and the sensitivity of the available instrumentation. Thanks to the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), JWST is now providing an unprecedented view of the molecular diversity on the surfaces of TNOs and Centaurs, in particular with the detection of several ices such as H2O, CO2, 13CO2, CO, CH3OH, and hydrocarbons. With almost one hundred objects observed so far, the JWST sample spans the diversity of the TNO population in terms of size, visible colors, geometric albedo, and dynamical properties. The largest objects, likely partially or wholly differentiated, share some compositional characteristics with the smaller ones, but are the only ones that can retain surficial hypervolatiles like N2 and CH4. Centaurs are generally the smallest objects observed, and display similar overall spectra to the intermediate objects, but the effects of thermal alteration (triggered by entering the region between the orbits of Jupiter and Neptune) tend to mute the distinctive molecular bands. The objects at intermediate size reveal three very clearly-defined spectral classes, dominated by 1) water ice, 2) CO2 ice, and 3) CH3OH ice and organics. Giant planet migration has distributed these three compositional classes across the dynamical classes of TNOs with the exception of the cold-classical, which remain on their primordial, very distant and low-inclination orbits. The cold classicals are all in the third spectral class, a strong indication that the compositional classes reflect formation distance of all of the TNOs within the protoplanetary disk. Finally, most TNOs show signs of surface irradiation, probably during their long-term residence in the outer Solar System.
ODAA Lecture:
Title: "A very powerful collaboration between amateur astronomers and exoclock through the use of the Europlanet Telescope Network"
Speaker: Merce Correa
Abstract:
Since 2021, a small group of amateurs from the Sabadell Astronomical Group have requested and obtained several observation projects to be carried out with the Europlanet Telescope Network (ETN), available to the planetary observation community. Our group has focused on the observation of Exoplanets, collaborating with the ExoClock project. A successful platform initiated and led by Anastasia Kokori and Angelos Tsiaras from the University of Thessaloniki, to monitor exoplanet transits that will be observed by the Ariel space mission, which will be launched in 2029, and will observe known exoplanets to obtain their spectrum and characterize their atmosphere. ExoClock is a platform with double scope: To monitor Ariel’s goals to increase mission efficiency and open exoplanet science to diverse communities and facilitate collaborations. For this project we have used three telescopes offered in Europlanet’s ETN network. The most used telescope has been the IAC80 located at the Teide observatory in Canary Islands and equipped with the Camelot 2 CCD or, failing that, with the CARONTE camera. With this telescope we have made more than 27 observations as of January 31, 2024 and with 23 published transits. This telescope is used in service mode. The second most used is the 1.23m telescope located in Calar Alto Observatory in Andalusia. It is equipped with the DLR-MKIII CCD camera. This telescope is used remotely and for this we have previously had to carry out in-person observations, to learn its subsequent use remotely. With this telescope we have made 10 observations, of which 8 have been published. All these observations have been funded by Europlanet. In parallel, we have also used the Joan Oró telescope, located at the Montsec Observatory, in Catalonia. This telescope is used in robotic mode and its nights have been achieved through the relationship with the observatory manager who showed his interest in participating in the EcoClock project. In this case, Europlanet funding was not needed. With this telescope, 16 observations have been made, 11 published. It will be briefly explained this powerful collaboration, the main results obtained and the current status with these observatories.
Session assets
13:30–13:50
Keynote lecture SB "TNOs and Centaurs with JWST" by Rosario Brunetto
13:50–13:55
Q & A
13:55–14:15
Keynote lecture ODAA "A very powerful collaboration between amateur astronomers and exoclock through the use of the Europlanet Telescope Network" by Mercè Correa
14:15–14:20
Q & A
Speakers
- Rosario Brunetto, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, France
- Mercè Correa, Spain