Astrophysics & Planetary Sciences Colloquium

Abstract: Brown dwarfs and directly imaged self-luminous exoplanets are interesting and complex worlds that form a critical stepping stone along the path to imaging Earth-like planets. By examining their atmospheres in detail we can better understand their thermal profiles, chemical composition, and cloud properties that are tightly coupled with their formation and evolution. In this talk, I will explain how I use atmospheric retrievals, a powerful inverse modeling technique, to examine the atmospheres of brown dwarfs.

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Abstract: While they make up a small fraction of the material in the heliosphere, measurements of elements heavier than helium can reveal critical information about their origin from the Sun, planets, small solar system bodies, and the interstellar medium. These measurements also inform us about the processes involved in particle acceleration and transport throughout the solar system.

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JWST is the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope and is 100 times more powerful. It is 7 tons of fragile hardware operating in the Near and Mid Infrared wavelengths. The amazing images of our universe captured by JWST required many engineering feats. In her talk, Ms. Simmons describes several engineering extremes and the science that drove them.

Abstract: Watkins will share highlights from her recent 170 days of living and
working aboard the International Space Station, her path to space, and
her perspective on the role of geology in space exploration.