Lines of research: Exoplanetary Systems & Solar System (SEYSS)

Exoplanetary Systems & Solar System (SEYSS)

The area of planetary and solar systems involves several research groups working on Exoplanets, Solar System and Cultural Astronomy. Our main objectives are:

  • The detection and characterization of giant and rocky planets around nearby stars using the most advanced instruments (CARMENES, ESPRESSO, HARPS Norte y Sur, SONG, LCO, MUSCAT2) and space missions (CoRoT, Kepler K2, CHEOPS, TESS and PLATO). The group is particularly interested in the study of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone of their host stars where water can be in liquid form.
  • The characterization of the atmospheres of planets to know their structure and composition, both by transits and direct imaging, using ground-based telescopes such as GTC and space missions such as CHEOPS.
  • Investigate the formation of exoplanet systems by studying the chemical composition of planet host stars, and the dynamical evolution of exoplanets at their early stages of formation.
  • Study the physical properties of different families of minor bodies of the Solar System (asteroids, comets, trans-neptunian objects, etc.) to understand the origin and evolution of Solar System with GTC and space missions such as OSIRIS-REx.
  • The study of ancient cosmologies through cultural astronomy and the defense of cultural heritage through the astronomy.
  • Publication
    SPACE: the spectroscopic all-sky cosmic explorer
    We describe the scientific motivations, the mission concept and the instrumentation of SPACE, a class-M mission proposed for concept study at the first call of...
  • Publication
    Spatial variations in the Milky Way disc metallicity-age relation
    Stellar ages are a crucial component to studying the evolution of the Milky Way. Using Gaia DR2 distance estimates, it is now possible to estimate stellar ages...
  • Publication
    Spectral characterisation of 14 V-type candidate asteroids from the MOVIS catalogue
    Most of the currently known basaltic (V-type) asteroids are believed to be past or present members of the Vesta dynamical family. The rising discoveries of V...
  • Publication
    Spectral characterization of the craters of Ryugu as observed by the NIRS3 instrument on-board Hayabusa2
    C-type rubble pile asteroid (162173) Ryugu was observed and characterized up close for a year and a half by the instruments on-board the Japanese Aerospace...
  • Publication
    Spectral Classification of B Stars: The Empirical Sequence Using SDSS-IV/APOGEE Near-IR Data
    We present a semi-empirical spectral classification scheme for normal B-type stars using near-infrared (NIR) spectra (1.5-1.7 μm) from the Sloan Digital Sky...
  • Publication
    Spectral clustering tools applied to Ceres in preparation for OSIRIS-REx color imaging of asteroid (101955) Bennu
    The OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample-return mission is investigating primitive near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu. Thousands of images will be acquired by the MapCam...
  • Publication
    Spectral diversity of the inner belt primitive asteroid background population
    We present new near-infrared spectra of 55 objects observed using the NASA InfraRed Telescope Facility and the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, along with visible...
  • Publication
    Spectral energy distribution simulations of a possible ring structure around the young, red brown dwarf G 196-3 B
    The origin of the very red optical and infrared colours of intermediate-age (˜10-500 Myr) L-type dwarfs remains unknown. It has been suggested that low-gravity...
  • Publication
    Spectral library of age-benchmark low-mass stars and brown dwmarfs
    In recent years, some extremely red brown dwarfs have been discovered. They were believed to have a low surface gravity, but many of their spectral...