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
    WASP-14 b: transit timing analysis of 19 light curves
    Although WASP-14 b is one of the most massive and densest exoplanets on a tight and eccentric orbit, it has never been a target of photometric follow-up...
  • Publication
    Water ice and organics on the surface of the asteroid 24 Themis
    It has been suggested that Earth's current supply of water was delivered by asteroids, some time after the collision that produced the Moon (which would have...
  • Publication
    Water vapor detection in the transmission spectra of HD 209458 b with the CARMENES NIR channel
    Aims: We aim at detecting water vapor in the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter HD 209458 b and perform a multi-band study in the near infrared with CARMENES...
  • Publication
    Water-ice-driven Activity on Main-Belt Comet P/2010 A2 (LINEAR)?
    The dust ejecta of Main-Belt Comet P/2010 A2 (LINEAR) have been observed with several telescopes at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma...
  • Publication
    WD 1145+017 photometric observations during eight months of high activity
    WD 1145+017 was observed from 2015 November to 2016 July for the purpose of characterizing transit behavior of the white dwarf by dust clouds thought to be...
  • Publication
    Weighing stars from birth to death: mass determination methods across the HRD
    The mass of a star is the most fundamental parameter for its structure, evolution, and final fate. It is particularly important for any kind of stellar...
  • Publication
    When binaries keep track of recent nucleosynthesis. The Zr-Nb pair in extrinsic stars as an s-process diagnostic
    Context. Barium stars are s-process enriched giants. They owe their chemical peculiarities to a past mass transfer phase. During this phase they were polluted...
  • Publication
    When the horseshoe fits: Characterizing 2023 FY<SUB>3</SUB> with the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias and the Two-meter Twin Telescope
    Context. The Arjuna asteroid belt is loosely defined as a diverse group of small asteroids that follow dynamically cold, Earth-like orbits. Most of them are not...
  • Publication
    Where does galactic dust come from?
    Here we investigate the origin of the dust mass (Mdust) observed in the Milky Way (MW) and of dust scaling relations found in a sample of local galaxies from...