Astronomy Seminar : Dr. Thaddeus Komacek
Abstract: The recent launch of JWST promises detailed characterization of hot gaseous exoplanets through emission and transmission spectroscopy observations. In this talk, I will discuss the current understanding of the atmospheric circulation of hot gaseous exoplanets ("hot Jupiters’’) as determined from interpreting astronomical observation with a combination of analytic theory and general circulation modeling. I will introduce the hottest gaseous exoplanets, "ultra-hot Jupiters,’’ as a novel extreme class of exoplanet characterized by thermal dissociation of molecules and patchy mineral cloud coverage. I will describe the current efforts to characterize the atmospheres of hot and ultra-hot Jupiters with JWST, along with potential avenues for further exploration.
Abstract:
The recent launch of JWST promises detailed characterization of hot gaseous exoplanets through emission and transmission spectroscopy observations. In this talk, I will discuss the current understanding of the atmospheric circulation of hot gaseous exoplanets ("hot Jupiters’’) as determined from interpreting astronomical observation with a combination of analytic theory and general circulation modeling. I will introduce the hottest gaseous exoplanets, "ultra-hot Jupiters,’’ as a novel extreme class of exoplanet characterized by thermal dissociation of molecules and patchy mineral cloud coverage. I will describe the current efforts to characterize the atmospheres of hot and ultra-hot Jupiters with JWST, along with potential avenues for further exploration.
Astronomy Seminars
Astronomy/Astrophysics seminars are held (roughly) weekly on Fridays at 2 pm (ET) on campus in Washington DC.
The seminar is fairly casual, and the audience is mostly astronomers, with some cosmochemists or geophysicists occasionally. The seminar will be hosted in a Hybrid format for Spring 2023.
Full Schedule
Exploring outer space to find distant planets and understand their origin.
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You can use this form to nominate speakers (or yourself) for a seminar slot. Note that if we receive more nominations than expected, the speakers will be selected through a vote by the Carnegie EPL Astronomy group.
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