Université de Montréal
Thermal emission of cool, potentially volcanically active exo-Earths — This project will observe the mid-IR thermal emission of the recently discovered cool exo-Earth LP 791-18d to determine whether an atmosphere is present or not. LP 791- 18d orbits a nearby M6 dwarf and is proposed to be volcanically active due to strong tidal heating of its interior, similar to Jupiter's moon Io. The volcanic activity would result in continuous replenishment of LP 791-18d's atmosphere, which our observations will probe for. The presence of an atmosphere on LP 791-18d would be a first signal that cool rocky planet around M dwarf can host atmospheres, motivating a larger campaign to probe the prevalence and diversity of secondary atmospheres.