Space Environments and their Impact on Exoplanets PDF Download

Author: Ofer Cohen
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
ISBN: 9781394205530
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This book reviews the stellar processes that generate the space environment at which exoplanets reside, and the planetary processes that interact with the space environment. It summarizes the last decade of research on this topic and explores how space physics processes may be important for the retention and chemical composition of the atmospheres of exoplanets. These are important factors for creating the conditions of exoplanetary habitability. This book is divided into three parts: the space environment, the planets, and star-planet interaction processes that are unique to exoplanetary systems. Part I describes the background stellar environment, going from general stellar evolution, to stellar activity, and then the creation of the space environment around exoplanets. Part II describes the impact of the space environment on the upper atmospheres of exoplanets. Finally, Part III focuses on unique star-planet interaction processes that are expected in close-in exoplanets, which are very different from what we find in our own solar system.

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 030947941X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 187

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Book Description
The past decade has delivered remarkable discoveries in the study of exoplanets. Hand-in-hand with these advances, a theoretical understanding of the myriad of processes that dictate the formation and evolution of planets has matured, spurred on by the avalanche of unexpected discoveries. Appreciation of the factors that make a planet hospitable to life has grown in sophistication, as has understanding of the context for biosignatures, the remotely detectable aspects of a planet's atmosphere or surface that reveal the presence of life. Exoplanet Science Strategy highlights strategic priorities for large, coordinated efforts that will support the scientific goals of the broad exoplanet science community. This report outlines a strategic plan that will answer lingering questions through a combination of large, ambitious community-supported efforts and support for diverse, creative, community-driven investigator research.

Author: Madhu Kashyap Jagadeesh
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000625834
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 167

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Book Description
Extreme Habitable Environments is a book authored with the intention of providing introductory material suitable for those interested in learning about exoplanets. The focal point of this book is to expose its readers to the excitement in identifying exoplanets and exploring the possibility of life on them. This book offers structured content enriched with graphics, flow charts, images and worked examples that make reading and learning a delight. This book further serves as a hands-on perspective of the solar system and exoplanets. The first two chapters give a thorough insight into the solar system replete with the dynamics of star and planet formation. Exoplanets are introduced in the third chapter. Remaining chapters deal with various aspects of exoplanets, in a phased manner. Every chapter starts with an inspirational quote by a renowned personality. Content for every chapter is written in a down-to-earth style to facilitate readers' understanding and appreciation of the fundamental concepts. While some topics are basically descriptive, others start with a simple concept and progressively become more rigorous and detailed. Every effort has been made to make each chapter as complete as possible with a view of inciting curiosity in the minds of the readers and motivating them towards additional knowledge acquisition. Numerical exercises are included at the end of relevant chapters to help readers develop independent thinking, logical analysis and deductive skills. It is hoped that this book will cater to the needs of students desirous of pursuing research and a career in the field of Exoplanets.

Author: Helmut Lammer
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319097490
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
In this book an international group of specialists discusses studies of exoplanets subjected to extreme stellar radiation and plasma conditions. It is shown that such studies will help us to understand how terrestrial planets and their atmospheres, including the early Venus, Earth and Mars, evolved during the host star’s active early phase. The book presents an analysis of findings from Hubble Space Telescope observations of transiting exoplanets, as well as applications of advanced numerical models for characterizing the upper atmosphere structure and stellar environments of exoplanets. The authors also address detections of atoms and molecules in the atmosphere of “hot Jupiters” by NASA’s Spitzer telescope. The observational and theoretical investigations and discoveries presented are both timely and important in the context of the next generation of space telescopes. The book is divided into four main parts, grouping chapters on exoplanet host star radiation and plasma environments, exoplanet upper atmosphere and environment observations, exoplanet and stellar magnetospheres, and exoplanet observation and characterization. The book closes with an outlook on the future of this research field.

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309463947
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 133

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Book Description
The search for life is one of the most active fields in space science and involves a wide variety of scientific disciplines, including planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics, chemistry, biology, chemistry, and geoscience. In December 2016, the Space Studies Board hosted a workshop to explore the possibility of habitable environments in the solar system and in exoplanets, techniques for detecting life, and the instrumentation used. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.

Author: Sara Seager
Publisher: University of Arizona Press
ISBN: 0816529450
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 545

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Book Description
For the first time in human history, we know for certain the existence of planets around other stars. Now the fastest-growing field in space science, the time is right for this fundamental source book on the topic which will lay the foundation for its continued growth. Exoplanets serves as both an introduction for the non-specialist and a foundation for the techniques and equations used in exoplanet observation by those dedicated to the field.

Author: Joseph Bevelacqua
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 1839693126
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 236

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Book Description
Solar System Planets and Exoplanets provides a current viewpoint of planetary systems. The solar system’s planets and exoplanets are addressed in an overview manner, and specific space probe data are used to provide a current state of knowledge of Venus and Mars. Recent Mars data and associated observations are addressed in several chapters. Of particular interest are data that suggest the possibility that life could have existed on the planet’s surface during its past when Mars’ atmosphere was wetter and denser. The search for life on Mars is one of the main objectives of space missions, and it is an ongoing theme of this book. Key to the existence of life is the evolution of the radiation output of the Sun that is discussed and projected into the future. Space probe data related to the Asteroid Belt is also presented. Technological advances in terms of operating aircraft on Mars and propulsion systems provide useful commentary regarding future innovations that will enhance upcoming space missions and the search for life.

Author: Jean-Pierre de Vera
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400765460
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 432

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Book Description
Is the Earth the right model and the only universal key to understand habitability, the origin and maintenance of life? Are we able to detect life elsewhere in the universe by the existing techniques and by the upcoming space missions? This book tries to give answers by focusing on environmental properties, which are playing a major role in influencing planetary surfaces or the interior of planets and satellites. The book gives insights into the nature of planets or satellites and their potential to harbor life. Different scientific disciplines are searching for the clues to classify planetary bodies as a habitable object and what kind of instruments and what kind of space exploration missions are necessary to detect life. Results from model calculations, field studies and from laboratory studies in planetary simulation facilities will help to elucidate if some of the planets and satellites in our solar system as well as in extra-solar systems are potentially habitable for life.

Author: Michael E. Summers
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
ISBN: 1588345955
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 225

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Book Description
The past few years have seen an incredible explosion in our knowledge of the universe. Since its 2009 launch, the Kepler satellite has discovered more than two thousand exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system. More exoplanets are being discovered all the time, and even more remarkable than the sheer number of exoplanets is their variety. In Exoplanets, astronomer Michael Summers and physicist James Trefil explore these remarkable recent discoveries: planets revolving around pulsars, planets made of diamond, planets that are mostly water, and numerous rogue planets wandering through the emptiness of space. This captivating book reveals the latest discoveries and argues that the incredible richness and complexity we are finding necessitates a change in our questions and mental paradigms. In short, we have to change how we think about the universe and our place in it, because it is stranger and more interesting than we could have imagined.

Author: Jeffrey Linsky
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 303011452X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 273

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Book Description
Like planets in our solar system, exoplanets form, evolve, and interact with their host stars in many ways. As exoplanets acquire material and grow to the final size, their atmospheres are subjected to intense UV and X-radiation and high-energy particle bombardment from the young host star. Whether a planet can retain its atmosphere and the conditions for significant mass loss both depend upon the strength of the host star's high-energy radiation and wind, the distance of the exoplanet from its host star, the gravitational potential of the exoplanet, and the initial chemical composition of the exoplanet atmosphere. This introductory overview describes the physical processes responsible for the emission of radiation and acceleration of winds of host stars that together control the environment of an exoplanet, focusing on topics that are critically important for understanding exoplanetary atmospheres but are usually not posed from the perspective of host stars. Accordingly, both host stars and exoplanets are not studied in isolation but are treated as integrated systems. Stellar magnetic fields, which are the energy source for activity phenomena including high-energy radiation and winds, play a critical role in determining whether exoplanets are habitable. This text is primarily for researchers and graduate students who are studying exoplanet atmospheres and habitability, but who may not have a background in the physics and phenomenology of host stars that provide the environment in which exoplanets evolve. It provides a comprehensive overview of this broad topic rather than going deeply into many technical aspects but includes a large list of references to guide those interested in pursuing these questions. Nonspecialists with a scientific background should also find this text a valuable resource for understanding the critical issues of contemporary exoplanet research.