Dr. Erin May, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

In Their JWST Era: Characterizing Atmospheres of Exoplanets with JWST

Abstract

As with many subfields of astrophysics, the successful launch and commissioning of JWST has revolutionized the study of exoplanet atmospheres. In this talk I will put our current state of knowledge of exoplanet atmospheres into context with historic Solar System observations and discuss the new dynamical and atmospheric regimes we’re now sensitive to since the launch of JWST. I will present multi-instrument JWST results on the atmosphere of a gaseous hot Jupiter, compared to previous observations with Hubble and Spitzer, as well as work searching for atmospheres on rocky exoplanets orbiting M-dwarfs with an eye towards the characterization of habitable worlds — a regime truly not accessible until JWST began operations. Finally, I will highlight some of the other transiting exoplanet observations from JWST and the new ground they are and will continue to break.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Erin May is a staff astronomer at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab where she primarily works on JWST data analysis of transiting exoplanets. She has worked with various ground and space-based instruments to study exoplanet atmospheres, and previously worked on 3D general circulation models of exoplanet atmosphere dynamics to make observational predictions. She is particularly interested in population level studies to uncover trends in exoplanet atmosphere properties.