Ana Glidden

Observations of Exoplanet Atmospheres with JWST

Are there other worlds like Earth? I use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study the atmospheres of planets orbiting stars other than the Sun. Through these observations, I can determine the molecules that make up their atmospheres, such as carbon dioxide, water, and methane.

• TRAPPIST-1 e Atmosphere Study
• WASP-17 b with JWST NIRISS/SOSS
• Quartz Clouds in WASP-17 b

Understanding Host Stars to Better Understand Planets

How can we learn more about planets by studying their host stars? We see planets through the light of their host star. I develop models of cool stars to understand their spectra and activity. This is critical for interpreting observations as it allows us to distinguish signals from the planet with those from the star.

• M Dwarf Modeling Paper

Evaluating Novel Biosignature Gases

Is there life elsewhere in the Universe and how can we best find it? Some gases in a planet's atmosphere could be evidence of biological activity. I explore which atmospheric molecules might serve as reliable biosignature gases and how future telescopes might detect them on distant worlds.

• Aerial Biospheres Paper
• Isotopologue Study

Using Atmospheric Clues to Reveal Planetary Origins

How do planets form and evolve? The contents of a planet's atmosphere can preserve clues about how and where it formed. By measuring atmospheric composition, we can look back in time to learn about the processes that build planetary systems and assess how common or rare our own Solar System may be. Stay tuned for updates!