Extrasolar Planets and Atmospheres

The research activities of the department are linked to two fundamental questions addressed in planetary science: ‘How did the Solar System form?’ and ‘Is our Solar System unique?’. In recent years we could find information to answer these questions by comparing our Solar System to other planetary systems. Taking the information on extrasolar planets into account puts new constraints to planet formation theories. In our own Solar System we can study primitive bodies, like comets, to investigate the processes involved during its formation in detail. In future, the combined information from the detailed investigations of our Solar System up to extrasolar planets is expected to result in a deeper understanding of planet formation. Furthermore, the investigation of planets that potentially allow the development of life is a key motivation to explore our Solar System as well as studying extrasolar planets. The physical processes during planetary evolution that provide the environmental conditions to form and sustain life are of high interest not only to the planetary science community but also to the general public.

The scientific approach of the department includes the study of extrasolar planets as well as detailed investigations of primitive bodies of the Solar System:

• the search and basic characterization of extrasolar planetary systems by photometric observations from space and ground
• the investigation of extrasolar planet atmospheres and atmospheres of Solar System bodies by numerical modeling
• the investigation of the icy components of comets by observations and modeling of the cometary comae.