PandExo: A Community Tool for Transiting Exoplanet Science with JWST & HST
read the original abstract
As we approach the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) era, several studies have emerged that aim to: 1) characterize how the instruments will perform and 2) determine what atmospheric spectral features could theoretically be detected using transmission and emission spectroscopy. To some degree, all these studies have relied on modeling of JWST's theoretical instrument noise. With under two years left until launch, it is imperative that the exoplanet community begins to digest and integrate these studies into their observing plans, as well as think about how to leverage the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to optimize JWST observations. In order to encourage this and to allow all members of the community access to JWST & HST noise simulations, we present here an open-source Python package and online interface for creating observation simulations of all observatory-supported time-series spectroscopy modes. This noise simulator, called PandExo, relies on some aspects of Space Telescope Science Institute's Exposure Time Calculator, Pandeia. We describe PandExo and the formalism for computing noise sources for JWST. Then, we benchmark PandExo's performance against each instrument team's independently written noise simulator for JWST, and previous observations for HST. We find that \texttt{PandExo} is within 10% agreement for HST/WFC3 and for all JWST instruments.
This paper has not been read by Pith yet.
Forward citations
Cited by 8 Pith papers
-
JWST COMPASS Program: The 3--5$\mu$m transmission spectrum of LTT 1445 A b
JWST NIRSpec observations of LTT 1445 A b yield a featureless 3-5μm transmission spectrum, limiting atmospheric metallicity to ≳350× solar under grey-cloud models.
-
Horizontal transport as a source of disequilibrium chemistry on the nightside of a hot exoplanet
JWST data on NGTS-10A b shows nightside CH4 depletion caused by day-to-night horizontal transport rather than vertical mixing or non-solar abundances.
-
JWST unveils a high mean molecular weight atmosphere for mini-Neptune TOI-1130b: Evidence for formation beyond the water ice line
The atmosphere of TOI-1130b shows high metallicity, low C/O, and elevated mean molecular weight consistent with ex-situ formation beyond the water ice line.
-
The Rocky Planet Picture Show: Implementation of Surface Reflection and Emission in $\texttt{POSEIDON}$ with Application to and Interpretation of JWST Data
POSEIDON now includes lab-derived rocky surface albedos, enabling JWST emission spectra to separate thin versus thick atmospheres and potentially identify granite-like versus basaltic surfaces.
-
Toward Inferring the Surface Fluxes of Biosignature Gases on Rocky Exoplanets from Telescope Spectra
A retrieval technique infers surface gas fluxes from exoplanet spectra via inversion of a photochemical-climate model, demonstrated on synthetic TRAPPIST-1 e data with an Archean-like biosphere.
-
A tidally detached super Neptune on a strongly misaligned retrograde orbit
TOI-1710 b has a true obliquity of 149 degrees indicating retrograde motion, favoring high-eccentricity migration via planet-planet scattering and Kozai-Lidov cycles for this tidally detached super-Neptune.
-
Sensitivity of Dry Lava Planet Atmospheric Emission Spectra to Changes in Lava Compositions
Simulations indicate that order-of-magnitude changes in TiO2 and SiO2 abundances in lava melts produce distinguishable TiO, SiO, and SiO2 features in dry lava planet emission spectra, potentially observable with 12 JW...
-
TOI-159 b: an eccentric hot-Jupiter planet around a young, pulsating $\gamma$ Doradus star
TOI-159 b is confirmed as the hottest known eccentric hot Jupiter (e = 0.24) with a 13-sigma Keplerian detection around a young gamma Doradus star, including a preliminary low-resolution transmission spectrum.
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.