Finding Atmospheres on M Dwarf Terrestrial Planets with JWST

Explore the groundbreaking potential of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in detecting atmospheres on terrestrial planets orbiting M dwarf stars in this 34-minute lecture presented by Megan Manssfield for UW Astrobiology. Gain insights into JWST's unprecedented capabilities for studying exoplanet atmospheres and the search for potentially habitable worlds. Discover how the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) can be used to efficiently identify M dwarf planets with atmospheres through secondary eclipse photometry. Learn about the first exoplanet results from JWST and upcoming research programs aimed at applying these innovative detection methods. Delve into the challenges and unknowns surrounding M dwarf planets, including their ability to retain atmospheres in the face of intense stellar radiation, and understand how this research contributes to the broader quest for identifying planets suitable for life beyond our solar system.