VIEWS FROMEPOXI: COLORS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AS AN ANALOG FOR EXTRASOLAR PLANETS

摘要: The first visible-light studies of Earth-sized extrasolar planets will employ photometry or low-resolution spectroscopy. This work uses EPOCh medium-band filter between 350 and 950 nm obtained with the Deep Impact (DI) High Resolution Instrument (HRI) Earth, Moon, Mars in addition to previous full-disk observations other six solar system Titan analyze limitations using photometric colors characterize planets. We determined that HRI 350, 550, 850 filters are optimal for distinguishing Earth from separating order based on their atmospheric surface properties. Detailed conclusions can be drawn about exoplanet atmospheres simply a color-color plot limited due potentially competing physical processes atmosphere. presence Rayleigh scattering atmosphere detected by an increase 350-550 brightness ratio, but absence cannot confirmed existence absorbing species UV. Methane ammonia only responsible strong absorption our system. combination present may differ those we see locally. Nevertheless, generation telescopes capable collecting such serve critical role first-order characterization constraining population Earth-like