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Download Dr. Malcolm B. Niedner HST Deputy Senior Proj. Scientist MISSION
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Exoplanet Exploration! Musings on Space-Based Strategies for the Near-Term Dr. Jennifer J. Wiseman Carbon planet, artist’s conception, courtesy M. Kuchner (GSFC) Space-based study of exoplanets will involve current facilities, future facilities, relevant technology development, coordination with ground-based capabilities, and thorough supportive theory and modeling investigations. Dearth of expended funding for major TPF mission has fueled major creative ideas for approaching exoplanet observations Transits (coordinate with ground-based Radial Velocity measurements) Starlight suppression for direct imaging / spectroscopy Internal Coronagraphy: Multiple concepts External Occulters Interferometry Astrometry Microlensing Debris disk modeling and observations (More…) Strategies • Massive exoplanet community input – AAAC Exoplanet Task Force – NASA Astrophysics Mission Concept Studies – Exoplanet Community Report – National Academy Decadal Survey Inputs – NASA Exoplanet Assessment Group (ExoPAG) Community reports • AAAC Exoplanet Task Force (Recommendations for vigorous ground-based RV detections, M-dwarf transit studies, a space-based astrometric survey mission, determination of exozodiacal dust obscuration levels, and, if conditions favorable, a flagship imaging and spectroscopic characterization mission.) http://www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/aaac/exoplanet_task_force/reports/exoptf_final_re port.pdf • Exoplanet Community Report Summary Statement: “The Exoplanet community’s top priority is that a line of probe-class missions for exoplanets be established, leading to a flagship mission at the earliest opportunity.” http://exep.jpl.nasa.gov/exep_exfCommunityReport.cfm Community reports • Whitepapers submitted to Decadal Survey – (Multiple techniques, science strategies, technology needs) • NASA Astrophysics Mission Concept Studies (studies of mid-class and flagship class future mission concepts, including exoplanet missions) Nearest term: use current facilities • HST / Spitzer (e.g. transit spectroscopy) • Herschel (circumstellar material; coordinate with ALMA) • Kepler (statistics on planetary systems; need improving ability for ground-based RV confirmation of earth-sized planets) • JWST (gas giants and super-Earths?) • More… Next Decade: Depends on Funding (as usual!) • Explorer Class missions? ($200 M) (e.g. TESS; may be other follow-on explorer class science?) • Discovery Class ($300-400M) (e.g. Kepler -but will there be future exoplanet Discovery missions? • Probe Class ($600-800 M) (will this new mission class get started?) • Probe ++ to small Flagship (Astrometric survey) (will probe-class include ~$1 B class missions?) • Technology Development Following decade(s) • Flagship Mission concepts (will allow spectral characterization) – 4, 8, or 16 meter optical telescope with external occulter and/or internal coronagraph; – IR interferometer Exoplanets & Stellar Astrophysics Technology HST Instruments (STIS, WFC3) Interferometry and coronagraphy theory and testbeds Next Generation UV Detectors Christopher Stark’s Predictions for TPF QuickTime™ and a YUV420 codec decompressor are needed to see this picture. Fomalhaut: Imaging An Exoplanet!! (P. Kalas et al 2009) http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/fomalhaut.html QuickTime™ and a decompressor are needed to see this picture. Countdown to Hubble SM4 ! Most HST slides graciously contributed by: Dr. Malcolm B. Niedner HST Deputy Senior Proj. Scientist MISSION GOAL: When the astronauts leave Hubble for the last time, it will be at the peak of its capabilities better than it has ever been before. WFC3 + ACS + NICMOS = Most powerful imaging ever The architecture of the universe COS + STIS = Full set of tools for astrophysics The mysteries of dark matter and dark energy The life story of galaxies The birth and death of stars Recipes for building planets Pertinent questions • What can we do from the ground now, and in the future? • What is the significance of circumstellar debris disks? – – – – Inter-relationship with planets Indicator of planets Obscuration of planets Predictive of bombardment and subsequent habitability of environment?
