Lines of research: Exoplanetary Systems & Solar System (SEYSS)

Exoplanetary Systems & Solar System (SEYSS)

The area of planetary and solar systems involves several research groups working on Exoplanets, Solar System and Cultural Astronomy. Our main objectives are:

  • The detection and characterization of giant and rocky planets around nearby stars using the most advanced instruments (CARMENES, ESPRESSO, HARPS Norte y Sur, SONG, LCO, MUSCAT2) and space missions (CoRoT, Kepler K2, CHEOPS, TESS and PLATO). The group is particularly interested in the study of terrestrial planets in the habitable zone of their host stars where water can be in liquid form.
  • The characterization of the atmospheres of planets to know their structure and composition, both by transits and direct imaging, using ground-based telescopes such as GTC and space missions such as CHEOPS.
  • Investigate the formation of exoplanet systems by studying the chemical composition of planet host stars, and the dynamical evolution of exoplanets at their early stages of formation.
  • Study the physical properties of different families of minor bodies of the Solar System (asteroids, comets, trans-neptunian objects, etc.) to understand the origin and evolution of Solar System with GTC and space missions such as OSIRIS-REx.
  • The study of ancient cosmologies through cultural astronomy and the defense of cultural heritage through the astronomy.
  • Publication
    The optical + infrared L dwarf spectral sequence of young planetary-mass objects in the Upper Scorpius association
    We present the results of photometric and spectroscopic follow-ups of the lowest mass member candidates in the nearest OB association, Upper Scorpius (∼5-10 Myr...
  • Publication
    The Orientation of Pre-Romanesque Churches in the Iberian Peninsula
    The orientation of Christian churches is a distinctive feature of its architecture, repeating patterns from early Christian times that show a general tendency...
  • Publication
    The Origin of Asteroid 101955 (1999 RQ36)
    Near-Earth asteroid (NEA) 101955 (1999 RQ36; henceforth RQ36) is especially accessible to spacecraft and is the primary target of NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample...
  • Publication
    The Origin of Asteroid 162173 (1999 JU3)
    Near-Earth asteroid (162173) 1999 JU3 (henceforth JU3) is a potentially hazardous asteroid and the target of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency's...
  • Publication
    The Origin of the 300 km s‑1 Stream near Segue 1
    We present a search for new members of the 300 km s‑1 stream (300S) near the dwarf galaxy Segue 1 using wide-field survey data. We identify 11 previously...
  • Publication
    The origin of the planetary nebula M 1-16. A morpho-kinematic and chemical analysis
    We investigated the origin of the Planetary Nebula (PN) M 1-16 using narrow-band optical imaging, and high- and low-resolution optical spectra to perform a...
  • Publication
    The Penas Pasera tumulus field of the Celtiberian city of Aratis (Aranda del Moncayo, Zaragoza, Spain) and the Celtic calendar
    Within the actions carried out by the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage of the Government of Aragon in relation to the judicial procedure on the pillage...
  • Publication
    The Penn State - Toruń Centre for Astronomy Planet Search stars. II. Lithium abundance analysis of the red giant clump sample
    Context. Standard stellar evolution theory does not predict existence of Li-rich giant stars. Several mechanisms for Li-enrichment have been proposed to operate...
  • Publication
    The Penn State - Toruń Centre for Astronomy Planet Search stars. IV. Dwarfs and the complete sample
    Context. Our knowledge of the intrinsic parameters of exoplanets is as precise as our determinations of their stellar hosts parameters. In the case of radial...