“The Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation Colloquium” - "Impact of UV on Characterizing Pale Blue Dots around Other Stars"

Name: Sarah Rugheimer (Simons Research Fellow, University of St. Andrews)

Abstract: The spectral type of the host star will influence our ability to detect atmospheric features with future space and ground based missions like JWST, GMT and horizon direct detection missions like HDST/LUVOIR. Specifically, the UV emission from a planet’s host star dominates the photochemistry and thus the resultant observable spectral features. Using the latest UV spectra obtained by HST as well as IUE, we model Earth-like planets for a wide range of host stars and geological epochs from pre-biotic to modern Earth-like biology. We detail the results of stellar activity on the primary detectable atmospheric features that indicate habitability on Earth, namely: H2O, O3, CH4, N2O and CH3Cl. Our model spectra of terrestrial planets spans a grid of FGKM host stars and is presented for the VIS/NIR (0.4 μm - 4 μm) and the IR (5 μm - 20 μm) wavelengths.              

https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~srugheimer/