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
    A super-massive Neptune-sized planet
    Neptune-sized planets exhibit a wide range of compositions and densities, depending on factors related to their formation and evolution history, such as the...
  • News
    A system of superearths has been detected around the brightest red dwarf in the sky
    The exoplanets closest to us offer the best opportunities to make a detailed study of their physical properties, including the search for life outside the Solar...
  • Publication
    A targeted search for Main Belt Comets
    Main Belt Comets (MBCs) exhibit sublimation-driven activity while occupying asteroid-like orbits in the Main Asteroid Belt. MBCs and candidates show stronger...
  • Publication
    A temperate Earth-sized planet with tidal heating transiting an M6 star
    Temperate Earth-sized exoplanets around late-M dwarfs offer a rare opportunity to explore under which conditions planets can develop hospitable climate...
  • Publication
    A temperate exo-Earth around a quiet M dwarf at 3.4 parsec
    The combination of high-contrast imaging and high-dispersion spectroscopy, which has successfully been use to detect the atmosphere of a giant planet, is one of...
  • Publication
    A temperature inversion with atomic iron in the ultra-hot dayside atmosphere of WASP-189b
    Temperature inversion layers are predicted to be present in ultra-hot giant planet atmospheres. Although such inversion layers have recently been observed in...
  • Publication
    A tentative detection of He I in the atmosphere of GJ 1214 b
    The He I λ10833 Å triplet is a powerful tool for characterising the upper atmosphere of exoplanets and tracing possible mass loss. Here, we analysed one transit...
  • Publication
    A test for asymptotic giant branch evolution theories: planetary nebulae in the Large Magellanic Cloud
    We used a new generation of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stellar models that include dust formation in the stellar winds to find the links between evolutionary...
  • Publication
    A theoretical investigation of the possible detection of C24 in space
    Astronomical infrared spectral features at ~6.6, 9.8 and 20 micronm have recently been suggested as being due to the planar graphene form of C24 carbon cluster...