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 cultural landscape ‘Risco caído and the sacred mountains of Gran Canaria: a paradigmatic proposal within UNESCO Astronomy and Wolrd Heritage initiative
    The island of Gran canaria in the Canarian Archipelago is characterized by the presence of sanctuaries at the top of significant mountains and on the scarps of...
  • News
    The densest “Neptune” ever observed
    An international team of researchers, with participation from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, has discovered an extremely dense Neptune-sized planet...
  • Publication
    The descent and bouncing path of the Hayabusa2 lander MASCOT at asteroid (162173) Ryugu
    Images from the Optical Navigation Camera system (ONC) onboard the Hayabusa2 spacecraft show the MASCOT lander during its descent to the surface of asteroid...
  • Publication
    The Detectability of Earth's Biosignatures Across Time
    Over the past two decades, enormous advances in the detection of exoplanets have taken place. Currently, we have discovered hundreds of Earth-sized planets...
  • Publication
    The development of a utopian city? Comparing land- and skyscapes in Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristobal de La laguna
    We discuss the peculiar planning of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, in the Canary Island of Tenerife (Spain), when compared to the nearby and...
  • Publication
    The Discovery and Follow-up of Four Transiting Short-period Sub-Neptunes Orbiting M Dwarfs
    Sub-Neptunes with radii of 2–3 R ⊕ are intermediate in size between rocky planets and Neptune-sized planets. The orbital properties and bulk compositions of...
  • Publication
    The Discovery and Mass Measurement of a New Ultra-short-period Planet: EPIC 228732031b
    We report the discovery of a new ultra-short-period planet and summarize the properties of all such planets for which the mass and radius have been measured...
  • Publication
    The discovery of WASP-151b, WASP-153b, WASP-156b: Insights on giant planet migration and the upper boundary of the Neptunian desert
    To investigate the origin of the features discovered in the exoplanet population, the knowledge of exoplanets' mass and radius with a good precision (≲10%) is...
  • Publication
    The Diverse Population of Small Bodies of the Solar System
    Small bodies are rocky and/or icy objects, usually ranging in size from a few meters to a few hundreds of kilometers. They comprise near-Earth and main belt...