Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science Silicate clouds and a dusty ring: JWST looks at YSES-1
Aug 20, 2025
Kielan Hoch, a Giacconi Fellow at the Space Telescope Science Institute, and Emily Rickman, an ESA science operations scientist, dive into the intriguing YSES-1 exoplanetary system featuring two giant planets. They discuss remarkable findings from the James Webb Space Telescope, including the discovery of a dusty circumplanetary disk around one planet and high-altitude silicate clouds in the atmosphere of another. The conversation also touches on future advancements in imaging exoplanets and the potential revelations from the proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory.
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Grad Student Leads A Cycle 1 JWST Program
- Keelan Hoch described proposing the JWST program as a grad student and building simulations before launch.
- The team discovered both planets could fit in NIRSpec's field of view, enabling simultaneous spectroscopy.
Hands-On Teamwork Before JWST Launch
- Emily Rickman joined STScI shortly before launch and recalls early brainstorming sessions that formed the team.
- She handled pointing and astrometry to avoid diffraction spikes and bright detector regions.
Youth Boosts Direct Imaging Contrast
- Direct imaging favors young planets because they retain formation heat and radiate strongly in infrared.
- As planets age and cool, their contrast with the host star worsens, making direct imaging harder.