Print Email Facebook Twitter The spectroastrometric detectability of nearby Solar System-like exomoons Title The spectroastrometric detectability of nearby Solar System-like exomoons Author van Woerkom, Q.B. (TU Delft Ethics & Philosophy of Technology; Universiteit Leiden) Kleisioti, E. (TU Delft Astrodynamics & Space Missions; Universiteit Leiden) Date 2024 Abstract Context. Though efforts to detect them have been made with a variety of methods, no technique can claim a successful, confirmed detection of a moon outside the Solar System yet. Moon detection methods are restricted in capability to detecting moons of masses beyond what formation models would suggest, or they require surface temperatures exceeding what tidal heating simulations allow. Aims. We expand upon spectroastrometry, a method that makes use of the variation of the centre of light with wavelength as the result of an unresolved companion, which has previously been shown to be capable of detecting Earth-analogue moons around nearby exo-Jupiters, with the aim to place bounds on the types of moons detectable using this method. Methods. We derived a general, analytic expression for the spectroastrometric signal of a moon in any closed Keplerian orbit, as well as a new set of estimates on the noise due to photon noise, pointing inaccuracies, background and instrument noise, and a pixelated detector. This framework was consequently used to derive bounds on the temperature required for Solar System-like moons to be observable around super-Jupiters in nearby systems, with ϵ Indi Ab as an archetype. Results. We show that such a detection is possible with the ELT for Solar System-like moons of moderate temperatures (150–300 K) in line with existing literature on tidal heating, and that the detection of large (Mars-sized or greater) icy moons of temperatures such as those observed in our Solar System in the very nearest systems may be feasible. Subject infrared: planetary systemsmethods: observationalplanets and satellites: detectionplanets and satellites: generaltechniques: imaging spectroscopy To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cd87bb1e-b4a7-4a22-930c-64424117e75c DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202348604 ISSN 0004-6361 Source Astronomy & Astrophysics, 684 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2024 Q.B. van Woerkom, E. Kleisioti Files PDF aa48604-23.pdf 1.09 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:cd87bb1e-b4a7-4a22-930c-64424117e75c/datastream/OBJ/view