We are now in the era where advanced telescopes can detect light emitted by warm planets. The temperature structure and spectra of these atmospheres depend on a number of factors: The amount of stellar light coming from the parent star, the amount of energy coming from the planet’s interior, the abundances of molecules in the atmosphere, and wavelengths of light at which these molecules absorb and transmit light. The summer project will involve aspects of the computer modeling of the atmospheres of exoplanets to better characterize their temperature and composition.
Mentor: Jonathan Fortney, Professor
Secondary Mentor: Ms. Caroline Morley