Astrobiological Studies of Planetary Bodies via Molecular Spectroscopy
When
Where
Dr. Geronimo Villanueva
Planetary Scientist
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
The advent of sensitive high-resolution spectrometers and modern analytical spectroscopic tools is opening new windows in the exploration of planetary atmospheres. High-resolution infrared spectrometers with broad spectral coverage at ground-based observatories (e.g., Keck, IRTF, VLT) and arrays of radio telescopes with state of the art receivers (e.g., ALMA) now permit the exploration of the kinematics, composition and thermal structure of a broad range of planetary sources with unprecedented precision. These, combined with the advent of comprehensive spectroscopic databases containing billions of lines, robust radiative transfer models, and unprecedented available computational power, are transforming the way we investigate planetary atmospheres.
Such advances have allowed us to obtain the first mapping of water D/H on Mars (Villanueva et al. 2015), to obtain one of the most comprehensive searches for organics in the Martian atmosphere (Villanueva et al. 2013), and to obtain the first astronomical measurement of water D/H in a periodic comet (Villanueva et al. 2009).
In this talk, I will present the current frontiers in the exploration of planetary atmospheres and how the synergies between future space (e.g., ExoMars 2016, JWST, LUVOIR) and ground astronomical assets (e.g., TMT, E-ELT) will transform our understanding of the composition, stability and evolution of the atmospheres in the Solar System and beyond.
Host: Dr. Walter Harris