BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//linuxsoftware.nz//NONSGML Joyous v1.4//EN BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Characterizing rocky exoplanets through their reflected and polari zed light DTSTART:20260622T143000Z DTEND:20260622T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260725T231149Z UID:1032f445-482f-44f8-a1cc-30c60e94e113 SEQUENCE:1 CREATED:20260622T102323Z DESCRIPTION: Understanding what makes a planet habitable requires learning how to interpret the faint light reflected by distant worlds. Crucially\, the polarization state of reflected light carries an almost unique finger print of the scattering processes that shape it\, discriminating cloud par ticles\, surface types\, and atmospheric composition where photometry and spectroscopy alone remain degenerate. Reflected-light observations will be central to detecting and characterizing rocky exoplanets\, and instrument s such as ANDES and PCS on the ELT will soon make it possible to observe n on-transiting planets like Proxima b. To prepare for such observations\, w e study Earth as an exoplanet through Earthshine - the sunlight reflected by Earth onto the dark portion of the visible Moon\, capturing the planet as a single\, unresolved pixel. Using 3D radiative transfer simulations\, we model Earth'\;s atmosphere and surface\, computing both the reflect ed and polarized light spectrum and phase curves. Comparing simulations wi th spectropolarimetric Earthshine observations\, we show how polarized sig natures\, such as the ocean glint and the primary rainbow\, can reveal the presence of liquid water on the planet. In this talk\, I will show how Ea rth provides a crucial benchmark for the characterization of rocky exoplan ets\, guiding future observations with the ELT and HWO. LAST-MODIFIED:20260622T102323Z LOCATION:DF Seminar Room (2-8.3)\, 2nd floor of Physics Building URL:http://df.vps.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/en/events/characterizing-rocky-exopla nets-through-their-reflected-and-polarized-light/ X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Understanding what makes a planet habitable requires learning how to interpret the faint lig ht reflected by distant worlds. Crucially\, the polarization state of refl ected light carries an almost unique fingerprint of the scattering process es that shape it\, discriminating cloud particles\, surface types\, and at mospheric composition where photometry and spectroscopy alone remain degen erate.

Reflected-light observations will be central to detecting and characterizing rocky exoplanets\, and instruments such as ANDES and P CS on the ELT will soon make it possible to observe non-transiting planets like Proxima b. To prepare for such observations\, we study Earth as an e xoplanet through Earthshine - the sunlight reflected by Earth onto the dar k portion of the visible Moon\, capturing the planet as a single\, unresol ved pixel.

Using 3D radiative transfer simulations\, we model Ea rth'\;s atmosphere and surface\, computing both the reflected and pola rized light spectrum and phase curves. Comparing simulations with spectrop olarimetric Earthshine observations\, we show how polarized signatures\, s uch as the ocean glint and the primary rainbow\, can reveal the presence o f liquid water on the planet. In this talk\, I will show how Earth provide s a crucial benchmark for the characterization of rocky exoplanets\, guidi ng future observations with the ELT and HWO.

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