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:20260703T171106Z UID:1032f445-482f-44f8-a1cc-30c60e94e113 SEQUENCE:2 CREATED:20260622T102332Z 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 fingerp rint of the scattering processes that shape it\, discriminating cloud part icles\, surface types\, and atmospheric composition where photometry and s pectroscopy alone remain degenerate. Reflected-light observations will be central to detecting and characterizing rocky exoplanets\, and instruments such as ANDES and PCS on the ELT will soon make it possible to observe no n-transiting planets like Proxima b. To prepare for such observations\, we study Earth as an exoplanet through Earthshine - the sunlight reflected b y Earth onto the dark portion of the visible Moon\, capturing the planet a s a single\, unresolved pixel. Using 3D radiative transfer simulations\, w e model Earth'\;s atmosphere and surface\, computing both the reflecte d and polarized light spectrum and phase curves. Comparing simulations wit h spectropolarimetric Earthshine observations\, we show how polarized sign atures\, 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 Ear th provides a crucial benchmark for the characterization of rocky exoplane ts\, guiding future observations with the ELT and HWO. LAST-MODIFIED:20260622T102345Z LOCATION:DF Seminar Room (2-8.3)\, 2nd floor of Physics Building URL:http://df.vps.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/pt/eventos/characterizing-rocky-exopl anets-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 ligh t reflected by distant worlds. Crucially\, the polarization state of refle cted light carries an almost unique fingerprint of the scattering processe s that shape it\, discriminating cloud particles\, surface types\, and atm ospheric composition where photometry and spectroscopy alone remain degene rate.

Reflected-light observations will be central to detecting and characterizing rocky exoplanets\, and instruments such as ANDES and PC S 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 ex oplanet through Earthshine - the sunlight reflected by Earth onto the dark portion of the visible Moon\, capturing the planet as a single\, unresolv ed pixel.

Using 3D radiative transfer simulations\, we model Ear th'\;s atmosphere and surface\, computing both the reflected and polar ized light spectrum and phase curves. Comparing simulations with spectropo larimetric Earthshine observations\, we show how polarized signatures\, su ch 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 Earth provides a crucial benchmark for the characterization of rocky exoplanets\, guidin g future observations with the ELT and HWO.

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