Download Biosignatures of Kepler 62 e And Kepler f

Hubble Space Telescope
Cycle 11 Snapshot Observing Proposal
Biosignatures of Kepler 62 e And Kepler f
Principal Investigator: DR. RAFAEL ROSARIO JR.
Institution: STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
USA/NY
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Scientific category:
Scientific keywords:
COOL STARS
EXTRA-SOLAR PLANETS, TERRESTRIAL PLANETS,
SPECTROSCOPY
Instruments: STIS Proprietary period: 6
Number of targets: 2
Abstract
This proposal is to take spectra of the exoplanets Kepler-62 e and Kepler-62 f during
a transit so as to obtain an spectrum of their respective atmospheres. From these spectra
we will look for the molecules call biosignatures. These biosignatures are believe to be signs
that planet is inhabitated by extra-terrestrial life. Biosignatures that will be on the look out
for are oxygen, oxone, methane and water vapor.
DR. RAFAEL ROSARIO JR.
Biosignatures of Kepler 62 e And Kepler f
PI:
Investigator
DR. RAFAEL ROSARIO
JR.
CoI:
Total number of investigators:
Institution
STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
Country
USA/NY
2
Observing Summary:
Target
RA
KEPLER-62 E 18 52 51.06
DEC
+45 20 59.5
V
13
KEPLER-62 F 18 52 51.06
+45 20 59.5
13
Configuration,mode,aperture
spectral elements
CCD SPECTROSCOPIC
G750L
CCD SPECTROSCOPIC
G750L
Grand total orbit request
2
Total
orbits
1
1
2
Flags
DR. RAFAEL ROSARIO JR.
Biosignatures of Kepler 62 e And Kepler f
Scientific Justification
The search for life is a question that has had mankind begging for an aswer. It had Galileo
see seas on the moon, is the main driving force in Martian Exploration, and great desire to
go even further and search for life in moons like Europa and Titan, what at one point was
only found in science fiction and comic books. While sending a spacecraft to venture out and
explore these exo-planets and return with little green men within a reasonable amount of
time is not within current technology, the technology we do have can give us the evidence that
the planet has little green men or red one-eyed giants, or maybe even something more human
than alien. Possibly all of the above. Kepler-62 e and Kepler-62 f were chosen because of how
earth like they are. Their radii are within 2 Earth radii, is have an equilibrium temperature
of more than 200 K therefore leaving room for green house gasses to allow for liquid water
to run in rivers, lakes and oceans. They are a good distance away which therefore decreases
the chances of the planets being tidally locked. As of right now these two planets are most
like Earth to date. The biosignatures will show with oxygen at the 760 nm, water vapor in
1100 nm, ozone in the 900 nm and methane in the 700 nm.
Reference Des Marais, D. J., Harwit, M., Jucks, K., Kasting, J. F., Lunine, J. I., Lin,
D., Seager, S., Schneider, J., Traub, W., & Woolf, N. 2002, Remote Sensing of Planetary
Properties and Biosignatures on Extrasolar Terrestrial Planets, Astrobiology, 2, 153-181
Description of the Observations
There are two two Objects, Kepler-62 e and Kepler-62 f, both low radius exoplanets on the
order of an Earth Radius. The exposure time for these planets will be 1 second in 1 orbit.
It will be second exposure because the images will be taken during the transit therefore this
will prevent saturation of the equipment.
Special Requirements
Coordinated Observations
Justify Duplications
Previous HST Programs
3