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Science with a Small Two-Band UV-Photometry Mission I: Mission Description and Follow-up Observations of Stellar Transients
Behar, E.; Chang, Hsiang-Kuang; Merc, J. +33 more
This is the first in a collection of three papers introducing the science with an ultra-violet (UV) space telescope on an approximately 130 kg small satellite with a moderately fast re-pointing capability and a real-time alert communication system approved for a Czech national space mission. The mission, called Quick Ultra-Violet Kilonova surveyor…
Searching for Strong Gravitational Lenses
Hezaveh, Yashar; Courbin, Frédéric; Leung, Calvin +9 more
Strong gravitational lenses provide unique laboratories for cosmological and astrophysical investigations, but they must first be discovered - a task that can be met with significant contamination by other astrophysical objects and asterisms. Here we review strong lens searches, covering various sources (quasars, galaxies, supernovae, FRBs, GRBs, …
The Composition of Saturn's Rings
Nicholson, Philip D.; Johnson, Robert E.; Hedman, Matthew M. +13 more
The origin and evolution of Saturn's rings is critical to understanding the Saturnian system as a whole. Here, we discuss the physical and chemical composition of the rings, as a foundation for evolutionary models described in subsequent chapters. We review the physical characteristics of the main rings, and summarize current constraints on their …
The Polar Stratosphere of Jupiter
Zhang, X.; Johnson, R. E.; Hueso, R. +13 more
Observations of the Jovian upper atmosphere at high latitudes in the UV, IR and mm/sub-mm all indicate that the chemical distributions and thermal structure are broadly influenced by auroral particle precipitations. Mid-IR and UV observations have shown that several light hydrocarbons (up to 6 carbon atoms) have altered abundances near Jupiter's m…
Trojan Asteroid Satellites, Rings, and Activity
Stern, S. Alan; Weaver, Harold A.; Buie, Marc W. +6 more
The Lucy mission will encounter five Jupiter Trojans during its mission with three of the five already known to be multiple systems. These include a near-equal-mass binary, a small and widely separated satellite, and one intermediate-size satellite system. This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge of Trojan asteroid satellites in the con…
Inhomogeneity in the Local ISM and Its Relation to the Heliosphere
Redfield, Seth; Linsky, Jeffrey; Ryder, Diana +1 more
This paper reviews past research and new studies underway of the local interstellar environment and its changing influence on the heliosphere. The size, shape, and physical properties of the heliosphere outside of the heliopause are determined by the surrounding environment - now the outer region of the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC). The temperat…
Backscattered Solar Lyman-α Emission as a Tool for the Heliospheric Boundary Exploration
Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Lallement, Rosine; Quémerais, Eric +4 more
This review summarizes our current understanding of the outer heliosphere and local interstellar medium (LISM) inferred from observations and modeling of interplanetary Lyman-α emission. The emission is produced by solar Lyman-α photons (121.567 nm) backscattered by interstellar H atoms inflowing to the heliosphere from the LISM. Studies of Lyman-…
The Host Galaxies of Tidal Disruption Events
Zabludoff, Ann I.; French, K. Decker; Graur, Or +2 more
Recent studies of Tidal Disruption Events (TDEs) have revealed unexpected correlations between the TDE rate and the large-scale properties of the host galaxies. In this review, we present the host galaxy properties of all TDE candidates known to date and quantify their distributions. We consider throughout the differences between observationally-i…
Atmospheric Dynamics of Hot Giant Planets and Brown Dwarfs
Showman, Adam P.; Parmentier, Vivien; Tan, Xianyu
Groundbased and spacecraft telescopic observations, combined with an intensive modeling effort, have greatly enhanced our understanding of hot giant planets and brown dwarfs over the past ten years. Although these objects are all fluid, hydrogen worlds with stratified atmospheres overlying convective interiors, they exhibit an impressive diversity…
A Review of Possible Planetary Atmospheres in the TRAPPIST-1 System
Demory, Brice-Olivier; Leconte, Jérémy; Turbet, Martin +4 more
TRAPPIST-1 is a fantastic nearby (∼39.14 light years) planetary system made of at least seven transiting terrestrial-size, terrestrial-mass planets all receiving a moderate amount of irradiation. To date, this is the most observationally favourable system of potentially habitable planets known to exist. Since the announcement of the discovery of t…