How do planetary systems form and evolve? What kinds of planets are out there?
I use a combination of space- and ground-based telescopes to characterize the properties of planets orbiting nearby stars.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS
Planetary Atmospheres
We can use observations of eclipsing planetary systems to characterize their atmospheric properties, including their compositions, temperatures, and climate patterns. These measurements allow us to investigate their formation and migration histories, as well as (for small planets) their potential habitability.
Image credit: Roberto Ziche
An Ode to gas giants
Gas giant planets dominate the formation and evolution of planetary systems, but we are only beginning to detect Jupiter analogues around nearby stars. How common are these planets, and how does their presence affect the properties of inner planetary systems?
Image credit: Denis Bajram / Univ. of Geneva
Atmospheric mass loss
Planets orbiting close to their host stars are subjected to intense irradiation that can strip away their atmospheres. What factors determine whether a planet keeps or loses its atmosphere?
Banner image credit: NASA/International Space Station