24/7 Space News
EXO WORLDS
Scientists build spectral library to identify water on exoplanets
illustration only
Reuters Events SMR and Advanced Reactor 2025
Scientists build spectral library to identify water on exoplanets
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Nov 15, 2024

Cornell University researchers are constructing a library of basalt-based spectral signatures, examining chemical processes from Earth's hot mantle. This compilation aims to shed light on the composition of planets outside our solar system and potentially reveal water's presence on those exoplanets.

"When the Earth's mantle melts, it produces basalts," explained Esteban Gazel, professor of engineering. Basalt, a prevalent volcanic rock in our solar system, serves as an essential recorder of geological history, he added.

"When the Martian mantle melted, it also produced basalts. The moon is mostly basaltic," Gazel said. "We're testing basaltic materials here on Earth to eventually elucidate the composition of exoplanets through the James Webb Space Telescope data."

Gazel, along with Emily First, a former Cornell postdoctoral researcher and now assistant professor at Macalester College, co-authored the paper "Mid-infrared Spectra for Basaltic Rocky Exoplanets," which was published in 'Nature Astronomy'.

Understanding how minerals reflect the processes forming these rocks and their spectral characteristics is crucial for developing this library, Gazel noted.

"We know that the majority of exoplanets will produce basalts, given that their host star's metallicity will lead to mantle minerals (iron-magnesium silicates) that, when melted, predict the formation of basaltic lavas," Gazel said. "This trend will likely be consistent not only within our solar system but across the galaxy."

First recorded the emissivity of 15 basalt samples to identify their spectral signatures, which may correspond to detections by the space telescope's mid-infrared spectrometer.

Once basaltic material erupts on an exoplanet and solidifies, it forms lava. If water is present, the interaction produces hydrated minerals, visible in the infrared spectrum. These can include amphibole or serpentine, which have distinct appearances and compositions.

Small spectral variances in basalt samples could, in theory, indicate whether an exoplanet had surface or internal water, said Gazel.

However, identifying water signatures is complex and would require the James Webb Space Telescope - located about a million miles from Earth - to spend extensive time observing a single system, followed by thorough data analysis.

The research team, examining these spectral signatures, used data from super Earth exoplanet LHS 3844b, located around 48 light-years away and orbiting a red dwarf star.

Ishan Mishra, from Nikole Lewis's laboratory at Cornell, created code to model First's spectral data, simulating potential exoplanet surfaces observable by JWST.

Lewis explained, "Ishan's coding tools were initially developed for studying icy moons in our solar system. We are now applying these insights to exoplanets."

First noted that the study's goal was not specific to LHS 3844b but aimed at understanding a variety of basaltic exoplanets that JWST and other future observatories might observe.

Exploring rocky exoplanet surfaces has typically focused on identifying single chemical markers. With JWST's advanced capabilities, scientists are transitioning to analyzing multiple components, enhancing understanding of these celestial bodies' mineralogy and chemical makeup.

"On Earth, basalts erupting from deep-sea mid-ocean ridges differ in composition from those at volcanic islands like Hawaii," First said. "Even rocks with similar bulk chemistry may host distinct minerals, making it crucial to study both characteristics."

This research received support from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Heising-Simons Foundation's 51 Pegasi b Fellowship.

Research Report:Potential for observing geological diversity from mid-infrared spectra of rocky exoplanets

Related Links
Cornell University
Lands Beyond Beyond - extra solar planets - news and science
Life Beyond Earth

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
EXO WORLDS
Ariel spacecraft prepares for rigorous tests at Airbus facility
Paris, France (SPX) Oct 31, 2024
The European Space Agency's Ariel mission has officially entered its assembly phase at Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse, France. The structural model of the Ariel spacecraft, designed to advance our understanding of distant exoplanet atmospheres, is now under construction. This model will undergo intense tests that are critical to validating the spacecraft's readiness for the conditions it will face during launch and in space. The structural model visible in the image represents Ariel's mechan ... read more

EXO WORLDS
AnalySwift aims to transform spacecraft for secondary uses during extended missions

Navigating the Digital Skies: How Adtech is Revolutionizing Space Tourism Marketing

Big Bang: Trump and Musk could redefine US space strategy

US Russian officials disagree over International Space Station leak severity

EXO WORLDS
Arianespace to launch Exotrail's Spacevan on Ariane 6

Can the Trump-Musk 'bromance' last?

ESA set to advance European launch services with a Boost!

New milestone for FAA-licensed commercial space operations as regulatory update begins

EXO WORLDS
Curiosity prepares to leave sulfur stones behind for boxwork exploration

USF research delves into volcanic caves for Mars life insights

Plates and Polygons Sols 4362-4363

Have We Been Searching for Life on Mars in the Wrong Way

EXO WORLDS
Tianzhou 7 completes cargo Mission, Tianzhou 8 docks with Tiangong

Zebrafish thrive in space experiment on China's space station

China's commercial space sector expands as firms outline ambitious plans

China prepares Tianzhou 8 for upcoming launch to Tiangong station

EXO WORLDS
AST SpaceMobile secures launch agreements for global space-based broadband network

Sidus Space Completes $7m public stock offering

Starfish Space raises $29M to propel Otter satellite servicing vehicles

Globalstar secures terrestrial spectrum authorization in Mexico

EXO WORLDS
Plextek's advanced mmWave technology revolutionizes space sensing and operations

mmt and Quadsat join forces to offer advanced satellite emulation and RF calibration services

Beyond Gravity unveils modular satellite electronics and expands product line

PIAP Space enhances satellite docking for refuelling and in-orbit servicing

EXO WORLDS
New approach improves models of atmosphere on early Earth, exo-planets

Living microbes identified in Earth's driest desert using new technique

SwRI scientists repurpose chemistry modeling software to study life-supporting conditions on icy moons

Scientists build spectral library to identify water on exoplanets

EXO WORLDS
Uranus moon Miranda may hold a hidden ocean below its surface

NASA and SpaceX Set for Europa Clipper Launch on October 14

NASA probe Europa Clipper lifts off for Jupiter's icy moon

Is life possible on a Jupiter moon? NASA goes to investigate

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.