Hot and dry: SPIRou reveals the atmosphere of hot Jupiter Tau Boötis b
Measuring the composition of the atmosphere of the hot Jupiter Tau Boötis b more precisely than ever, an iREx-led team of astronomers provides a better understanding of giant exoplanets. Using the SPIRou spectropolarimeter on the Canada-France-Hawaii…
A Solar Eclipse on the morning of June 10th 2021
The Institute for Research on Exoplanets and its partners the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic and the Centre for Research in Astrophysics of Quebec invite you to admire the solar eclipse taking place at sunrise on the morning…
Astronomers uncover mysterious origins of ‘super-Earths’
Study shows super-Earths are not leftovers of mini-Neptunes, challenging our understanding of planetary formation Mini-Neptunes and super-Earths up to four times the size of our own are the most common exoplanets orbiting stars beyond our solar…
SPIRou stares at a young rebel: the AU Mic planetary system
SPIRou, the new high-precision infrared spectropolarimeter recently installed at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, has measured for the first time the mass and density of a Neptune-like planet in close orbit around a very young and extremely active…
A ‘super-puff’ planet like no other
A University of Montreal-led team of astronomers discovers that the core mass of exoplanet WASP-107b is much lower than previously thought possible for a gas-giant planet. The core mass of the giant exoplanet WASP-107b is much…
Supersonic winds, rocky rains forecasted on lava planet
“Rocky” weather could change the surface and atmosphere over time on exoplanet K2-141b Among the most extreme planets discovered beyond the edges of our solar system are lava planets: fiery hot worlds that circle so close…
Interview with professors Björn Benneke and Nicolas Cowan on LTT 9779 b, a special hot Neptune
LTT 9779 b is an exoplanet the size of Neptune and very close to its star. It was discovered recently thanks to NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) space telescope. Two iREx researchers, Professors Björn Benneke…
Citizen scientists help discover two bizarre brown dwarfs in the Milky Way
Thanks to the help of citizen scientists, astronomers have confirmed the existence of two of the most unusual brown dwarfs in the Milky Way. Brown dwarfs form like stars, but are not massive enough to ignite…
Discovering an exoplanet the size of Neptune
Astrophysicists detect the orb hidden in the dust and gas debris around the young star AU Microscopii An exoplanet the size of Neptune has been discovered around the young star AU Microscopii, thanks in part to…
Water detected on an exoplanet located in its star’s habitable zone
An international study lead by Université de Montréal astronomer Björn Benneke has detected water vapour on the planet K2-18b; this represents a major discovery in the search of alien life. Ever since the discovery of the…