RASC Vancouver Monthly Meeting (In person at SFU on-line zoom optional)

Join us for our monthly meeting. All of our monthly meetings are free and open to the public.

Location: Simon Fraser University Burnaby Room AQ3149 or Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83027067174?pwd=fOMu2YBHMPqcaugpAusLDvNEqUhdwb.1

Topic: Forecasting Exoplanet Weather with the James Webb Space Telescope

Speaker: Louis-Philippe Coulombe

Bio: Louis-Philippe is a PhD candidate at the Université de Montréal and a member of the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets. His research uses JWST observations to study the composition and dynamics of exoplanet atmospheres.

Abstract: Some exoplanets orbit so close to their host stars that they are scorched by intense heat, leading to extreme weather patterns unlike anything seen in our Solar System. One such planet is LTT 9779 b, an "ultrahot Neptune" that reflects an unusually large amount of starlight, making it one of the most reflective planets ever found around another star. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, we observed the planet throughout its entire orbit, which lasts only 19 hours. Our observations reveal that the planet’s dayside is split into two distinct regions: the western side is covered in bright, reflective clouds, while the eastern side is much darker. This suggests that powerful winds push heat from the dayside towards the cooler nightside, allowing clouds made of minerals to form on one side while the other remains too hot for them to exist. These findings provide a rare glimpse into the exotic weather of distant worlds and help us understand how planetary atmospheres behave under extreme conditions.

About our Events:

All RASC lectures and observing events are open to the public, family friendly, and there is no charge for admission. Our organization is run entirely by volunteers who love astronomy and astrophysics. Whether you're a complete beginner, a seasoned astronomer, or you hope to work for NASA some day, anyone fascinated by space exploration is welcome and will enjoy our events