Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric Characterization
We present an analysis of high-resolution, near-infrared (NIR) spectra relative to the solar transit of Venus of 5–6 June 2012, as observed with the Facility Infrared Spectropolarimeter (FIRS) at the Dunn Solar Telescope in New Mexico. These observations offer the unique opportunity to probe the upp...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/12/1431 |
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| author | Alexandre Branco Pedro Machado Olivier Demangeon Tomás Azevedo Silva Sarah A. Jaeggli Thomas Widemann Paolo Tanga |
| author_facet | Alexandre Branco Pedro Machado Olivier Demangeon Tomás Azevedo Silva Sarah A. Jaeggli Thomas Widemann Paolo Tanga |
| author_sort | Alexandre Branco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present an analysis of high-resolution, near-infrared (NIR) spectra relative to the solar transit of Venus of 5–6 June 2012, as observed with the Facility Infrared Spectropolarimeter (FIRS) at the Dunn Solar Telescope in New Mexico. These observations offer the unique opportunity to probe the upper layers (above ∼84 km in altitude) of a thick, CO<sub>2</sub>-dominated atmosphere with the transmission spectroscopy technique—a proxy for future studies of highly-irradiated atmospheres of Earth-sized exoplanets. We were able to directly observe absorption lines from the two most abundant CO<sub>2</sub> isotopologues, and from the main isotopologue of CO in the retrieved spectrum of Venus. Furthermore, we performed a cross-correlation analysis of the transmission spectrum using transmission templates generated with petitRADTRANS. With the cross-correlation technique, it was possible to confirm detections of both CO<sub>2</sub> isotopologues and CO. Additionally, we retrieved a tentative cross-correlation signal for O<sub>3</sub> on Venus. We demonstrate the feasibility of high-resolution, ground-based observations to study the chemical inventory of planetary atmospheres, employing techniques commonly used in exoplanet characterization. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d1274cd0491d498fbfc8ce0a8a55693f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-d1274cd0491d498fbfc8ce0a8a55693f2025-08-20T02:56:05ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-11-011512143110.3390/atmos15121431Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric CharacterizationAlexandre Branco0Pedro Machado1Olivier Demangeon2Tomás Azevedo Silva3Sarah A. Jaeggli4Thomas Widemann5Paolo Tanga6Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa, Ed. Leste, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-018 Lisboa, PortugalInstitute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa, Ed. Leste, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-018 Lisboa, PortugalInstitute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Universidade do Porto, CAUP, Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto, PortugalInstitute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Universidade do Porto, CAUP, Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto, PortugalNational Solar Observatory, 22 Ohia Ku Street, Pukalani, HI 96768, USALESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 5 Place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon, FranceUniversité Côte d’Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange, Bd de l’Observatoire, CS 34229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4, FranceWe present an analysis of high-resolution, near-infrared (NIR) spectra relative to the solar transit of Venus of 5–6 June 2012, as observed with the Facility Infrared Spectropolarimeter (FIRS) at the Dunn Solar Telescope in New Mexico. These observations offer the unique opportunity to probe the upper layers (above ∼84 km in altitude) of a thick, CO<sub>2</sub>-dominated atmosphere with the transmission spectroscopy technique—a proxy for future studies of highly-irradiated atmospheres of Earth-sized exoplanets. We were able to directly observe absorption lines from the two most abundant CO<sub>2</sub> isotopologues, and from the main isotopologue of CO in the retrieved spectrum of Venus. Furthermore, we performed a cross-correlation analysis of the transmission spectrum using transmission templates generated with petitRADTRANS. With the cross-correlation technique, it was possible to confirm detections of both CO<sub>2</sub> isotopologues and CO. Additionally, we retrieved a tentative cross-correlation signal for O<sub>3</sub> on Venus. We demonstrate the feasibility of high-resolution, ground-based observations to study the chemical inventory of planetary atmospheres, employing techniques commonly used in exoplanet characterization.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/12/1431Venussolar transithigh-resolution transmission spectroscopyradiative transfercross-correlationcarbon dioxide |
| spellingShingle | Alexandre Branco Pedro Machado Olivier Demangeon Tomás Azevedo Silva Sarah A. Jaeggli Thomas Widemann Paolo Tanga Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric Characterization Atmosphere Venus solar transit high-resolution transmission spectroscopy radiative transfer cross-correlation carbon dioxide |
| title | Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric Characterization |
| title_full | Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric Characterization |
| title_fullStr | Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric Characterization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric Characterization |
| title_short | Transmission Spectroscopy Along the Transit of Venus: A Proxy for Exoplanets Atmospheric Characterization |
| title_sort | transmission spectroscopy along the transit of venus a proxy for exoplanets atmospheric characterization |
| topic | Venus solar transit high-resolution transmission spectroscopy radiative transfer cross-correlation carbon dioxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/12/1431 |
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