Thermal Emission Observations of the Keystone Exoplanet WASP-107b
Abstract
The low temperature regime below 800 K is a yet poorly-understood region of the parameter space in exoplanetary atmospheres science. In particular, the strong emission at 3.6um combined with apparent lack of emission at 4.5um has challenged theorists. The newly detected eclipse of WASP-107b is a unique opportunity to unveil the underlying mechanisms of atmospheric dynamics and carbon chemistry. With its Neptune mass combined with a Jupiter size, it has a large atmospheric scale height which makes it the most amenable target for Spitzer secondary eclipse observations below 800 K. Our proposed repeated secondary eclipse observations at 3.6 and 4.5 um will provide the best possible measurements for a planet in the <800K yet, in that further constraint atmospheric models, and determine whether there is any flux between 4-5um that could be invested more closely by investigating substantial JWST time in the future. Currently, without any broadband detection at 4.5μm in this regime, it is not clear at all what a JWST program at this wavelength could deliver for us for planets in this temperature regime (WASP-107b, GJ436b, etc.).
- Publication:
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Spitzer Proposal
- Pub Date:
- March 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019sptz.prop14256B