The JWST Early Release Science Program for the Direct Imaging and Spectroscopy of Exoplanetary Systems

Authors

• Sasha Hinkley, University of Exeter
• Aarynn L. Carter, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Shrishmoy Ray, University of Exeter
• Andrew Skemer, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Beth Biller, University of Edinburgh, Institute for Astronomy
• Elodie Choquet, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille
• Maxwell A. Millar-Blanchaer, University of California, Santa Barbara
• Stephanie Sallum, University of California, Irvine
• Brittany Miles, University of California, Santa Cruz
• Niall Whiteford, American Museum of Natural History
• Polychronis Patapis, ETH Zürich
• Marshall Perrin, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Laurent Pueyo, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Glenn Schneider, The University of Arizona
• Karl Stapelfeldt, California Institute of Technology
• Jason Wang, California Institute of Technology
• Kimberly Ward-Duong, Space Telescope Science InstituteFollow
• Brendan P. Bowler, The University of Texas at Austin
• Anthony Boccaletti, L'Observatoire de Paris
• Julien H. Girard, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Dean Hines, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Paul Kalas, University of California, Berkeley
• Jens Kammerer, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Pierre Kervella, L'Observatoire de Paris
• Jarron Leisenring, The University of Arizona
• Eric Pantin, Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
• Yifan Zhou, The University of Texas at Austin
• Michael Meyer, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Michael C. Liu, University Hawaii Institute for Astronomy
• Mickael Bonnefoy, Université Grenoble Alpes
• Thayne Currie, NASA Ames Research Center
• Michael McElwain, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2022

Publication Title

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Abstract

The direct characterization of exoplanetary systems with high-contrast imaging is among the highest priorities for the broader exoplanet community. As large space missions will be necessary for detecting and characterizing exo-Earth twins, developing the techniques and technology for direct imaging of exoplanets is a driving focus for the community. For the first time, JWST will directly observe extrasolar planets at mid-infrared wavelengths beyond 5 μm, deliver detailed spectroscopy revealing much more precise chemical abundances and atmospheric conditions, and provide sensitivity to analogs of our solar system ice-giant planets at wide orbital separations, an entirely new class of exoplanet. However, in order to maximize the scientific output over the lifetime of the mission, an exquisite understanding of the instrumental performance of JWST is needed as early in the mission as possible. In this paper, we describe our 55 hr Early Release Science Program that will utilize all four JWST instruments to extend the characterization of planetary-mass companions to ∼15 μm as well as image a circumstellar disk in the mid-infrared with unprecedented sensitivity. Our program will also assess the performance of the observatory in the key modes expected to be commonly used for exoplanet direct imaging and spectroscopy, optimize data calibration and processing, and generate representative data sets that will enable a broad user base to effectively plan for general observing programs in future Cycles.

Volume

134

Issue

1039

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/ac77bd

ISSN

00046280

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Rights

© 2022. The Author(s)

Version

Version of Record

Recommended Citation

Hinkley, Sasha; Carter, Aarynn L.; Ray, Shrishmoy; Skemer, Andrew; Biller, Beth; Choquet, Elodie; Millar-Blanchaer, Maxwell A.; Sallum, Stephanie; Miles, Brittany; Whiteford, Niall; Patapis, Polychronis; Perrin, Marshall; Pueyo, Laurent; Schneider, Glenn; Stapelfeldt, Karl; Wang, Jason; Ward-Duong, Kimberly; Bowler, Brendan P.; Boccaletti, Anthony; Girard, Julien H.; Hines, Dean; Kalas, Paul; Kammerer, Jens; Kervella, Pierre; Leisenring, Jarron; Pantin, Eric; Zhou, Yifan; Meyer, Michael; Liu, Michael C.; Bonnefoy, Mickael; Currie, Thayne; and McElwain, Michael, "The JWST Early Release Science Program for the Direct Imaging and Spectroscopy of Exoplanetary Systems" (2022). Astronomy: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/ast_facpubs/93