The Fundamental Connections between the Solar System and Exoplanetary Science

Kane, Stephen R.; Arney, Giada; Byrne, P. K.; Dalba, Paul A.; Desch, S. J.; Horner, Jonathan; Izenberg, N. R.; Mandt, K.; Meadows, Victoria; Quick, L. C.

doi:10.1029/2020je006643

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 473 publications

(771 reference statements)

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“…From the perspective of exoplanet atmospheric remote sensing, solar system worlds and observations can yield opportunities both to validate retrieval model results and capabilities and to test the simplifying parameterizations necessarily adopted in these tools. A recent review of connections between solar system planetary science and exoplanet science (Kane et al 2021) highlighted measurables from solar system worlds as a "pathway forward" for more correct interpretations of exoplanet data. However, relatively few works have examined such applications of solar system observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring and Validating Exoplanet Atmospheric Retrievals with Solar System Analog Observations

Robinson¹,

Salvador²

2023

Planet. Sci. J.

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Solar system observations that serve as analogs for exoplanet remote sensing data can provide important opportunities to validate ideas and models related to exoplanet environments. Critically, and unlike true exoplanet observations, solar system analog data benefit from available high-quality ground- or orbiter-derived “truth” constraints that enable strong validations of exoplanet data interpretation tools. In this work, we first present a versatile atmospheric retrieval suite, capable of application to reflected light, thermal emission, and transmission observations spanning a broad range of wavelengths and thermochemical conditions. The tool—dubbed rfast—is designed, in part, to enable exoplanet mission concept feasibility studies. Following model validation, the retrieval tool is applied to a range of solar system analog observations for exoplanet environments. Retrieval studies using Earth reflected light observations from NASA’s EPOXI mission provide a key proof of concept for exo-Earth direct imaging concept missions under development. Inverse modeling applied to an infrared spectrum of Earth from the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer achieves good constraints on atmospheric gases, including many biosignature gases. Finally, retrieval analysis applied to a transit spectrum of Titan derived from the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer provides a proof of concept for interpreting more feature-rich transiting exoplanet observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. In the future, solar system analog observations for exoplanets could be used to verify exoplanet models and parameterizations, and future exoplanet analog observations of any solar system worlds from planetary science missions should be encouraged.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring and Validating Exoplanet Atmospheric Retrievals with Solar System Analog Observations

Robinson¹,

Salvador²

2023

Planet. Sci. J.

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“…Although the inventory of solar system giant planets and their associated rings and moons is limited, they yet provide the best clues to the formation and evolution of such systems (Horner et al 2020;Kane et al 2021), as well as a guide toward detecting their exoplanet analogs (Dalba et al 2015;Mayorga Figure 5. Planet masses (Jupiter masses) and Hill radii (planetary radii) for the known exoplanets with measured masses and radii.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Dynamical Viability of an Extended Jupiter Ring System

Kane¹,

Li²

2022

Planet. Sci. J.

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Planetary rings are often speculated as being a relatively common attribute of giant planets, partly based on their prevalence within the solar system. However, their formation and sustainability remain a topic of open discussion, and the most massive planet within our planetary system harbors a very modest ring system. Here, we present the results of an N-body simulation that explores dynamical constraints on the presence of substantial ring material for Jupiter. Our simulations extend from within the rigid satellite Roche limit to 10% of the Jupiter Hill radius, and include outcomes from 106 and 107 yr integrations. The results show possible regions of a sustained dense ring material presence around Jupiter that may comprise the foundation for moon formation. The results largely demonstrate the truncation of stable orbits imposed by the Galilean satellites, and dynamical desiccation of dense ring material within the range ∼3–29 Jupiter radii. We discuss the implications of these results for exoplanets, and the complex relationship between the simultaneous presence of rings and massive moon systems.

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“…Comparison between the current and past atmospheres of Venus and Earth provides vital tools with which we can better understand atmospheric evolution. More precise measurements than are currently available will improve our understanding of the dynamic interactions between atmospheric constituents so that existing models may be extrapolated to other bodies, including exoplanets, with greater fidelity (i.e., Kane et al 2021).…”

Section: Comparative Planetologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although Venus is not habitable today, its previously high water inventory suggests that the planet may have been habitable in the past. This possibility drives the interest in Venus as an exoplanet analog to explore the inner limits of habitabilty (Kane et al 2019(Kane et al , 2021. The locations of the habitable zones (HZs; Kopparapu et al 2013) around different types of stars are an area of active research in exoplanet science.…”

Section: Comparative Planetologymentioning

confidence: 99%

VALENTInE: A Concept for a New Frontiers–Class Long-duration In Situ Balloon-based Aerobot Mission to Venus

et al. 2022

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Described here is a concept for a variable-altitude aerobot mission to Venus developed as part of the 2020 NASA Planetary Science Summer School in collaboration with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Venus Air and Land Expedition: a Novel Trailblazer for in situ Exploration (VALENTInE) is a long-duration New Frontiers–class mission to Venus in alignment with the goals recommended by the 2013 Planetary Science Decadal Survey. VALENTInE would have five science objectives: (1) determine the driving force of atmospheric superrotation, (2) determine the source of D/H and noble gas inventory, (3) determine the properties that govern how light is reflected within the lower cloud later, (4) determine whether the tesserae are felsic, and (5) determine whether there is evidence of a recent dynamo preserved in the rock record. The proposed mission concept has a total duration of 15 Earth days and would float at an altitude of 55 km, along with five dips to a lower altitude of 45 km to study Venus’s lower atmosphere. The instrument payload allows for measurements of the atmosphere, surface, and interior of Venus and includes six instruments: an atmospheric weather suite, a mass spectrometer, a multispectral imager, a near-infrared spectrometer, light detection and ranging, and a magnetometer. Principle challenges included a limitation caused by battery lifetime and low technology readiness levels for aerobots that can survive the harsh conditions of Venus’s atmosphere. This preliminary mission was designed to fit within an assumed New Frontiers 5 (based on inflated New Frontiers 4) cost cap.

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The Fundamental Connections between the Solar System and Exoplanetary Science

Cited by 19 publications

References 473 publications

Exploring and Validating Exoplanet Atmospheric Retrievals with Solar System Analog Observations

Exploring and Validating Exoplanet Atmospheric Retrievals with Solar System Analog Observations

The Dynamical Viability of an Extended Jupiter Ring System

VALENTInE: A Concept for a New Frontiers–Class Long-duration In Situ Balloon-based Aerobot Mission to Venus

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