Abstract:
Atmospheric escape is a process that affects the structure, composition, and evolution of many planets. The signatures of this escape are detectable on close-in, gaseous exoplanets orbiting bright stars, owing to the high levels of extreme-ultraviolet irradiance from their nearby parent stars. The Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE) is a 6U CubeSat mission designed to take advantage of the near-ultraviolet stellar brightness distribution to conduct a survey of the extended atmospheres of nearby close-in planets. The CUTE payload is a near-ultraviolet (2487 – 3376 Angstrom) spectrograph fed by a rectangular, Cassegrain telescope (206 mm x 84mm); the spectrogram is recorded on a back-illuminated, UV-enhanced CCD. CUTE was launched into a polar, low-Earth orbit on 27 September 2021 and has been conducting this survey following an on-orbit commissioning period. I will present an overview of the CUTE mission, including its motivation and development path. I will conclude by presenting on-orbit science data and observations of excess NUV absorption on short-period planets acquired as part of CUTE’s Early Release Science program.
Zoom Info: If you’re interested in attending virtually, please contact Jem Averyt to be added to the mailing list: Jem.Averyt@lasp.colorado.edu
Address Info:
LASP – Space Science Building
SPSC-W120
3665 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO 80303
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program supports university-based centers and institutes where the collective efforts of a larger group of individuals can enable transformational advances in the most promising research areas. The program is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources such as combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure, not usually available to individual investigators or small groups, in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. PFCs also include creative, substantive activities aimed at enhancing education, broadening participation of traditionally underrepresented groups, and outreach to the scientific community and general public.