A Consolidated Grant Proposal for Solar and Planetary Science at the University of Leicester, 2022 - 2025
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leicester
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We propose a world-class programme of research that focuses on 3 main areas of study concerned with our solar system. The first involves study of the outer environments of the planets where the gas is ionised, such that it not only feels the gravitational pull of the planet, but also interacts strongly with its magnetic and electric fields. In the second area we seek to study the origin and evolution of solar system bodies, through examination of materials from asteroid, chondrite and lunar samples, and through laboratory-based exploration of X-ray fluorescence from Mercury analogues. The third area will employ spectroscopy from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and ground observatories to explore the planetary stratospheres and tropospheres at the ice giants Uranus and Neptune.
Previous work in the first area shows that the outer environments of the planets vary widely, determined by the interaction with the plasma that blows continuously from the Sun on the outside, and the interaction with the planet and its moons on the inside. The solar wind is prone to outbursts that can lead to magnetic storms and bright auroras at Earth, as well as varying strongly over the solar cycle, and with distance from the Sun. Its interaction with the planets then depends on whether the planet is magnetised, has an atmosphere, and has active moons. We will use MESSENGER data to study Mercury close to the Sun, a planet that has a magnetic field but almost no atmosphere; use the constellation of spacecraft at Mars, more distant from the Sun, which has an atmosphere but no strong magnetic field to prevent its erosion by the solar wind; and combine multi-spacecraft and ground instrumentation at Earth, at intermediate distances having both an atmosphere and a magnetic field. We will also study the strongly magnetized giant planets Jupiter and Saturn using data from the Juno mission at Jupiter and Cassini at Saturn, combined with observations of the auroras at ultraviolet wavelengths using the Hubble Space Telescope and at infrared wavelengths using large ground-based telescopes. Auroras are caused by large-scale electric currents flowing between the outer environments and the upper ionized atmospheres, which communicate force between these regions. Overall emphasis will be on the complex physical processes that couple the solar wind on the outside, the magnetic field surrounding the planet (if any), and the planetary atmospheres or surface on the inside.
In the second area, laboratory studies, we will analyse material returned from C-class asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. We will make complementary analyses on Apollo lunar regolith grains and recent, unique carbonaceous chondrite falls to build a new understanding of space weathering and C-class asteroid parent body processes. This project builds on the leading expertise we have in the microanalysis of planetary materials, through electron microscopy at ePSIC and UoL, and synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy. Laboratory work focused on Mercury will centre on the MIXS Ground Reference Facility, a purpose-built system to allow detailed analysis of X-ray fluorescence, induced using an X-ray or electron source, for bespoke surface analogues. This laboratory facility will uniquely allow us to expand our science programme using the MIXS data from the BepiColombo mission, both in relation to the dayside surface composition goals at global and local scales on Mercury, and in terms of the nightside magnetosphere-surface interaction which produces a significant X-ray fluorescence associated with electron bombardment.
The final theme leverages Leicester's leadership of the guaranteed-time giant planets programme on the JWST, exploiting MIRI spectroscopic maps of the Ice Giants Uranus and Neptune, combined with a ground-based observation programme, to understand how stratospheric circulation, photochemistry, and tropospheric meteorology shape the atmospheres of sub-giant-sized worlds.
Previous work in the first area shows that the outer environments of the planets vary widely, determined by the interaction with the plasma that blows continuously from the Sun on the outside, and the interaction with the planet and its moons on the inside. The solar wind is prone to outbursts that can lead to magnetic storms and bright auroras at Earth, as well as varying strongly over the solar cycle, and with distance from the Sun. Its interaction with the planets then depends on whether the planet is magnetised, has an atmosphere, and has active moons. We will use MESSENGER data to study Mercury close to the Sun, a planet that has a magnetic field but almost no atmosphere; use the constellation of spacecraft at Mars, more distant from the Sun, which has an atmosphere but no strong magnetic field to prevent its erosion by the solar wind; and combine multi-spacecraft and ground instrumentation at Earth, at intermediate distances having both an atmosphere and a magnetic field. We will also study the strongly magnetized giant planets Jupiter and Saturn using data from the Juno mission at Jupiter and Cassini at Saturn, combined with observations of the auroras at ultraviolet wavelengths using the Hubble Space Telescope and at infrared wavelengths using large ground-based telescopes. Auroras are caused by large-scale electric currents flowing between the outer environments and the upper ionized atmospheres, which communicate force between these regions. Overall emphasis will be on the complex physical processes that couple the solar wind on the outside, the magnetic field surrounding the planet (if any), and the planetary atmospheres or surface on the inside.
In the second area, laboratory studies, we will analyse material returned from C-class asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. We will make complementary analyses on Apollo lunar regolith grains and recent, unique carbonaceous chondrite falls to build a new understanding of space weathering and C-class asteroid parent body processes. This project builds on the leading expertise we have in the microanalysis of planetary materials, through electron microscopy at ePSIC and UoL, and synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy. Laboratory work focused on Mercury will centre on the MIXS Ground Reference Facility, a purpose-built system to allow detailed analysis of X-ray fluorescence, induced using an X-ray or electron source, for bespoke surface analogues. This laboratory facility will uniquely allow us to expand our science programme using the MIXS data from the BepiColombo mission, both in relation to the dayside surface composition goals at global and local scales on Mercury, and in terms of the nightside magnetosphere-surface interaction which produces a significant X-ray fluorescence associated with electron bombardment.
The final theme leverages Leicester's leadership of the guaranteed-time giant planets programme on the JWST, exploiting MIRI spectroscopic maps of the Ice Giants Uranus and Neptune, combined with a ground-based observation programme, to understand how stratospheric circulation, photochemistry, and tropospheric meteorology shape the atmospheres of sub-giant-sized worlds.
Publications
Gerekos C
(2024)
Observation of solar radio burst events from Mars orbit with the Shallow Radar instrument
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Grassi D
(2024)
Jupiter's Hotspots as observed by JIRAM-Juno: limb darkening in thermal infrared
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Grocott A
(2023)
SuperDARN Observations of the Two Component Model of Ionospheric Convection
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Guillot, T
(2022)
Protostars and Planets VII
Guillot,T
(2023)
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series
Gupta P
(2022)
Jupiter's Temperature Structure: A Reassessment of the Voyager Radio Occultation Measurements
in The Planetary Science Journal
Harada Y
(2023)
Radio Absorption in the Nightside Ionosphere of Mars During Solar Energetic Particle Events
in Space Weather
Harada Y
(2024)
Discrete aurora and the nightside ionosphere of Mars: an EMM-MEX conjunction of FUV imaging, ionospheric radar sounding, and suprathermal electron measurements
in Earth, Planets and Space
Harada Y
(2025)
Short-wave fadeout on mars: Radio absorption in the dayside martian ionosphere enhanced by solar flares
in Icarus
Harkett J
(2024)
The Thermal Structure and Composition of Jupiter's Great Red Spot From JWST/MIRI
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Hedman M
(2024)
Water-Ice Dominated Spectra of Saturn's Rings and Small Moons From JWST
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Hodnett R
(2024)
Modeling and Observations of the Effects of the Alfvén Velocity Profile on the Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Hodnett R
(2023)
Climatology of the Harmonic Frequency Separation of Ionospheric Alfvén Resonances at Eskdalemuir Observatory, UK
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Holmstrom M
(2024)
Future opportunities in solar system plasma science through ESA's exploration programme
in npj Microgravity
Hori K
(2023)
Jupiter's cloud-level variability triggered by torsional oscillations in the interior
in Nature Astronomy
Hueso R
(2023)
An intense narrow equatorial jet in Jupiter's lower stratosphere observed by JWST
in Nature Astronomy
Hunt G
(2022)
The Response of Saturn's Dawn Field-Aligned Currents to Magnetospheric and Ring Current Conditions During Cassini's Proximal Orbits: Evidence for a Region 2 Response at Saturn
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Irwin P
(2025)
Clouds and Ammonia in the Atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn Determined From a Band-Depth Analysis of VLT/MUSE Observations
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Irwin P
(2023)
Latitudinal Variations in Methane Abundance, Aerosol Opacity and Aerosol Scattering Efficiency in Neptune's Atmosphere Determined From VLT/MUSE
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Irwin P
(2023)
Spectral determination of the colour and vertical structure of dark spots in Neptune's atmosphere
in Nature Astronomy
Irwin P
(2024)
Modelling the seasonal cycle of Uranus's colour and magnitude, and comparison with Neptune
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Irwin PGJ
(2022)
Hazy Blue Worlds: A Holistic Aerosol Model for Uranus and Neptune, Including Dark Spots.
in Journal of geophysical research. Planets
James A
(2023)
The Temporal Brightening of Uranus' Northern Polar Hood From HST/WFC3 and HST/STIS Observations
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
Joyce S
(2023)
X-ray and UV radiation in the planet-forming T-Tauri system PDS 70. Signs of accretion and coronal activity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kamran A
(2022)
Auroral Field-Aligned Current Signatures in Jupiter's Magnetosphere: Juno Magnetic Field Observations and Physical Modeling
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Kempton EM
(2023)
A reflective, metal-rich atmosphere for GJ 1214b from its JWST phase curve.
in Nature
Khoo L
(2024)
Multispacecraft Observations of a Widespread Solar Energetic Particle Event on 2022 February 15-16
in The Astrophysical Journal
King O
(2023)
Custom JWST NIRSpec/IFU and MIRI/MRS Data Reduction Pipelines for Solar System Targets
in Research Notes of the AAS
King O
(2022)
Global Modeling of Ganymede's Surface Composition: Near-IR Mapping From VLT/SPHERE
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets
King O
(2022)
Compositional Mapping of Europa Using MCMC Modeling of Near-IR VLT/SPHERE and Galileo/NIMS Observations
in The Planetary Science Journal
King O
(2023)
PlanetMapper: A Python package for visualising, navigating and mapping Solar System observations
in Journal of Open Source Software
Kozlovsky A
(2023)
Influence of Atmospheric Circulation on Orientation of Auroral Arcs
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Krcelic P
(2023)
Fine-Scale Electric Fields and Joule Heating From Observations of the Aurora
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Krishnan A
(2023)
Analysis of Two Selected Solar Events in 2011 and 2015 With Mars Express Radio Occultation Data
in Radio Science
Lao C
(2024)
On the Association of Substorm Identification Methods
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Lario D
(2022)
Influence of Large-scale Interplanetary Structures on the Propagation of Solar Energetic Particles: The Multispacecraft Event on 2021 October 9
in The Astrophysical Journal
Law D
(2025)
The James Webb Space Telescope Absolute Flux Calibration. III. Mid-infrared Instrument Medium Resolution Integral Field Unit Spectrometer
in The Astronomical Journal
Lee C
(2023)
Heliophysics and space weather science at ~1.5 AU: Knowledge gaps and need for space weather monitors at Mars
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Lester M
(2022)
The Impact of Energetic Particles on the Martian Ionosphere During a Full Solar Cycle of Radar Observations: Radar Blackouts
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Lockwood M
(2023)
Universal Time variations in the magnetosphere
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Ma M
(2024)
Interplanetary Rotation of 2021 December 4 Coronal Mass Ejection on Its Journey to Mars
in The Astrophysical Journal
Malsky I
(2024)
A Direct Comparison between the Use of Double Gray and Multiwavelength Radiative Transfer in a General Circulation Model with and without Radiatively Active Clouds
in The Astrophysical Journal
| Title | JWST NIRCam data (unprojected) |
| Description | Unprojected NIRCam images of Jupiter's northern H3+ auroral emission. These observations were obtained as part of JWST program 4566 on 25 December 2023, using the long wavelength channel of NIRCam with the CLEAR pupil aperture stop and F335M filter. The data are presented in units of radiance in µW m-2 sr-1, and have been reduced as described in Nichols et al. (2024). The data are stored in the first extension of each FITS file, in arrays of shape (n_integrations, nx, ny), where n_integrations is the number of integrations stored in this file. The observation almanac information is stored in the header. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/dataset/JWST_NIRCam_data_unprojected_/26893192/1 |
| Title | JWST NIRCam data (unprojected) |
| Description | Unprojected NIRCam images of Jupiter's northern H3+ auroral emission. These observations were obtained as part of JWST program 4566 on 25 December 2023, using the long wavelength channel of NIRCam with the CLEAR pupil aperture stop and F335M filter. The data are presented in units of radiance in µW m-2 sr-1, and have been reduced as described in Nichols et al. (2024). The data are stored in the first extension of each FITS file, in arrays of shape (n_integrations, nx, ny), where n_integrations is the number of integrations stored in this file. The observation almanac information is stored in the header. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/dataset/JWST_NIRCam_data_unprojected_/26893192 |