Calendar

Giu
20
mar
Riunione sicurezza
Giu 20@11:00–13:00
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Giu
22
gio
Riunione RUP ed a seguire CdS
Giu 22@10:00–13:00
Seminario: Claudia Di Maio (UNIPA/INAF)
Giu 22@15:00–16:30

Speaker: Claudia Di Maio

Title: The mass determination challenge for exoplanetary science
Abstract:

The mass of an exoplanet is a key parameter for the characterisation of the internal structure of a planet, as well as the study of the formation and the evolution of the planet, and of its atmosphere.

The radial velocity technique allows measuring the planetary mass from the radial velocity variation of its parent star. However, limitations in the property determination of exoplanets, particularly in their masses, can arise from various sources especially from astrophysical noise due to stellar variability, caused by magnetic activity, which affects the detection and characterisation of exoplanets.
During my PhD, I aim to understand the impact of our knowledge of the planetary mass in the planetary atmospheric characterisation and to reduce the sources of uncertainty by a deep study of the stellar activity and by developing new techniques
for stellar variability filtering.
To this end, I analysed the impact of the planetary mass uncertainties of atmospheric retrievals of multiple targets from the mission reference sample of Ariel, the forthcoming ESA M4 mission aimed at studying planetary atmospheres.
I simulated different spectra as observed by Ariel, assuming primordial or secondary atmospheres of hot Jupiters, and sub-Neptunes or super-Earths, respectively, under different cloudy configurations. I estimated both the accuracy and precision necessary
for each analysed target, testing also the capability of retrieval in the case of incorrect mass estimation. I verified that one of the most crucial issues is the presence of high-altitude clouds, in particular in the secondary atmosphere cases.
For this reason, I tested the capability to retrieve the cloudy configuration or the presence of a secondary atmosphere during the first tier of the Ariel mission, to take an informed decision if including the planet in the Tier-2 sample.
I also developed SpotCCF, a photospheric stellar model, to optimise the radial velocity extraction in fast-rotating stars. This model, based on the cross-correlation function technique, takes into account the contribution of stellar activity by considering the presence of multiple spots on the stellar surface that caused deformation of the profile of the cross-correlation function.
Globally, I highlighted the importance of planetary mass characterization and the complexity of their determination due to the effects of stellar variability. In the context of the Ariel mission, it highlights the importance of a detailed and individual analysis of each target of the mission reference sample, to be able to accurately select the Tier-2 targets and characterise their planetary atmosphere, and represents a step forward towards the preparation of the ESA M4 Ariel mission. It also shows how this work cannot be disentangled from a detailed study of the stellar variability that is crucial in the determination of the planetary mass, both in its accuracy and precision.
Giu
28
mer
Seminario: M. Coniglio (INAF)
Giu 28@15:00–16:30

Speaker: Manuela Coniglio (INAF)
Titolo: L’affresco dimenticato: celebrazione di una scoperta
Abstract:
L’Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo venne istituito alla fine del 1700, in piena età neoclassica, in un momento storico in cui i cantieri borbonici realizzavano opere monumentali di grande interesse artistico e architettonico. A partire da tali presupposti, sono stati condotti degli studi volti a rintracciare eventuali elementi decorativi dell’originaria Specola panormitana, oggi quasi del tutto assenti. Il viaggio tra carte e documenti ha portato alla consultazione di un variegato materiale archivistico, composto da lettere e note manoscritte ma anche disegni, incisioni e fotografie, conservati in diversi archivi. Dal loro studio è emerso qualcosa di inaspettato e del tutto dimenticato: un’imponente celebrazione artistica della scoperta di Cerere Ferdinandea, il primo asteroide individuato da Piazzi nella notte del 1° gennaio 1801, realizzata proprio nel Real Osservatorio di Palermo, da cui il pianetino venne osservato per la prima volta.

Lug
3
lun
Visita museo 3 pax Giambelluca
Lug 3@9:30–11:45
Lug
4
mar
Lug 4@9:00–13:00

Ref. Coniglio

Riunione EXOPA
Lug 4@10:00–13:00
Lug
5
mer
Riunione Hyperteck S.r.L.
Lug 5@11:00–13:00
Lug
6
gio
Riunione gestione documentale PNRR
Lug 6@11:30–13:00
Riunione HPC (SCAN)
Lug 6@16:00–18:00