Global Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets from Scattered Light Curves

Details Global Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets from Scattered Light Curves Global Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets from Scattered Light Curves

2010-04-28

arxiv.org/abs/1004.5152v2

Astrophys.J.720:1333-1350,2010

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics

20 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1088/0004-637X/720/2/1333

Scattered lights from terrestrial exoplanets provide valuable information about the planetary surface. Applying the surface reconstruction method proposed by Fujii et al. (2010) to both diurnal and annual variations of the scattered light, we develop a reconstruction method of land distribution with both longitudinal and latitudinal resolutions. We find that one can recover a global map of an idealized Earth-like planet on the following assumptions: 1) cloudless, 2) a face-on circular orbit, 3) known surface types and their reflectance spectra 4) no atmospheric absorption, 5) known rotation rate 6) static map, and 7) no moon. Using the dependence of light curves on the planetary obliquity, we also show that the obliquity can be measured by adopting the chi-square minimization or the extended information criterion. We demonstrate a feasibility of our methodology by applying it to a multi-band photometry of a cloudless model Earth with future space missions such as the occulting ozone observatory (O3). We conclude that future space missions can estimate both the surface distribution and the obliquity at least for cloudless Earth-like planets within 5 pc.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Global Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets from Scattered Light Curves does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Global Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets from Scattered Light Curves, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Global Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets from Scattered Light Curves will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-284190