The JWST Early Release Science Program for the Direct Imaging and Spectroscopy of Exoplanetary Systems
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, vol. 134, pp. 095003
Abstract
Abstract The direct characterization of exoplanetary systems with high-contrast imaging is among the highest priorities for the broader exoplanet community. As large space missions will be necessary for detecting and characterizing exo-Earth twins, developing the techniques and technology for direct imaging of exoplanets is a driving focus for the community. For the first time, JWST will directly observe extrasolar planets at mid-infrared wavelengths beyond 5 μm, deliver detailed spectroscopy revealing much more precise chemical abundances and atmospheric conditions, and provide sensitivity to analogs of our solar system ice-giant planets at wide orbital separations, an entirely new class of exoplanet. However, in order to maximize the scientific output over the lifetime of the mission, an exquisite understanding of the instrumental performance of JWST is needed as early in the mission as possible. In this paper, we describe our 55 hr Early Release Science Program that will utilize all four JWST instruments to extend the characterization of planetary-mass companions to ∼15 μm as well as image a circumstellar disk in the mid-infrared with unprecedented sensitivity. Our program will also assess the performance of the observatory in the key modes expected to be commonly used for exoplanet direct imaging and spectroscopy, optimize data calibration and processing, and generate representative data sets that will enable a broad user base to effectively plan for general observing programs in future Cycles.
Authors 88
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Affiliation as printed
University of Exeter, Astrophysics Group, Physics Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
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University of California, Santa Cruz
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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Affiliation as printed
University of Exeter, Astrophysics Group, Physics Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
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University of California, Santa Cruz
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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Royal Observatory · University of Edinburgh
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SUPA, Institute for Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh, EH9 3HJ, UK
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université
Affiliation as printed
Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France
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University of California, Santa Barbara
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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University of California, Irvine
Affiliation as printed
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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University of California, Santa Cruz
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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American Museum of Natural History
Affiliation as printed
Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, NY 10024, USA
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ETH Zurich · Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics
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Institute for Particle Physics & Astrophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Space Telescope Science Institute
Affiliation as printed
Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Space Telescope Science Institute
Affiliation as printed
Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ 85721-0065 USA
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California Institute of Technology · Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, M/S 321-100, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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Northwestern University · California Institute of Technology
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Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
Department of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Space Telescope Science Institute · Smith College
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Department of Astronomy, Smith College, Northampton MA 01063, USA
Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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The University of Texas at Austin
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Department of Astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin, 2515 Speedway Boulevard Stop C1400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique
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LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 5 place Jules Janssen, F-92195 Meudon, France
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Space Telescope Science Institute
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Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Space Telescope Science Institute
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Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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University of California, Berkeley
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Department of Astronomy, University of California at Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Space Telescope Science Institute
Affiliation as printed
Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique
Affiliation as printed
LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 5 place Jules Janssen, F-92195 Meudon, France
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Affiliation as printed
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ 85721-0065 USA
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Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
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IRFU/DAp Département D’Astrophysique CE Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
IRFU/DAp Département D'Astrophysique CE Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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The University of Texas at Austin
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Department of Astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin, 2515 Speedway Boulevard Stop C1400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble · Université Grenoble Alpes
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Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, Institut de Planétologie et dAstrophysique de Grenoble, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
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NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
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Department of Physics and Astronomy, Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
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Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
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Space Sciences, Technologies, and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège Belgium
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Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
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Center for Astrophysics ∣ Harvard & Smithsonian, 60 Garden St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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École Normale Supérieure de Lyon · Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Lyon · University of Exeter · Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon
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University of Exeter, Astrophysics Group, Physics Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
École Normale Supérieure, Lyon, CRAL (UMR CNRS 5574), Université de Lyon, France
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School of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
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Friedrich Schiller University Jena
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Astrophysikalisches Institut und Universitätssternwarte, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Schillergässchen 2-3, D-07745 Jena, Germany
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University of California, Berkeley
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Department of Astronomy, University of California at Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble · Université Grenoble Alpes
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Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, Institut de Planétologie et dAstrophysique de Grenoble, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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Space Telescope Science Institute
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Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation · Sorbonne Paris Cité · Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía · Université Paris Diderot
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AIM, CEA, CNRS, Universitè Paris-Saclay, Universitè Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Citè, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n , E-18008, Granada, Spain
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Department of Astronomy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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The University of Texas at Austin
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Department of Astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin, 2515 Speedway Boulevard Stop C1400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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University of California, Los Angeles
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Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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University of California, Santa Cruz
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Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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Eureka Scientific, 2452 Delmer St., Suite 100, Oakland CA 96402-3017, USA
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California Institute of Technology · Infrared Processing and Analysis Center
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IPAC, Mail Code 100-22, Caltech, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
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Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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Space Telescope Science Institute
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Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Department of Astronomy, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
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Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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Leiden University · Leiden Observatory
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Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Postbus 9513, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
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The University of Texas at Austin
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Department of Astronomy, The University of Texas at Austin, 2515 Speedway Boulevard Stop C1400, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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Astrobiology Center · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
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Astrobiology Center, 2-21-1, Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8588, Japan
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Astrophysique, Instrumentation et Modélisation · Sorbonne Paris Cité · Université Paris Diderot
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AIM, CEA, CNRS, Universitè Paris-Saclay, Universitè Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Citè, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble · Université Grenoble Alpes
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Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, Institut de Planétologie et dAstrophysique de Grenoble, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
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Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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University of Exeter · Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova
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INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 5, I-35122, Padova, Italy
University of Exeter, Astrophysics Group, Physics Building, Stocker Road, Exeter, EX4 4QL, UK
INAF–Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, I-35122, Padova, Italy
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Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca NY, USA
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Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA, UK
Jesus College, University of Cambridge, Jesus Lane, Cambridge CB5 8BL, UK
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Lunar & Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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University of California, Irvine
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Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics · University of Victoria · National Research Council Canada
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Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 5071 West Saanich Road, Victoria, BC V9E 2E7, Canada
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Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics · University of Victoria · National Research Council Canada
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Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada
Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 5071 West Saanich Road, Victoria, BC V9E 2E7, Canada
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Observatoire Astronomique de líUniversité de Genève, 51 Ch. Pegasi, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland
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California Institute of Technology · Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Department of Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, M/S 321-100, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris Cité · Université Paris Sciences et Lettres · Observatoire de Paris · Sorbonne Université · Laboratoire d’études spatiales et d’instrumentation en astrophysique
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LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, 5 place Jules Janssen, F-92195 Meudon, France
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University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa · University of Hawaii System
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Institute of Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 2860 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble · Millenium Nucleus for Planet Formation · University of Valparaíso · Université Grenoble Alpes
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Nícleo Milenio Formaciín Planetaria—NPF, Universidad de Valparaíso, Av. Gran Bretaía 1111, Valparaíso, Chile
Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, Institut de Planétologie et dAstrophysique de Grenoble, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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ETH Zurich · Institute for Particle Physics and Astrophysics
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Institute for Particle Physics & Astrophysics, ETH Zurich, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Landessternwarte, Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg, Königstuhl 12, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble · Université Grenoble Alpes
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Université Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, Institut de Planétologie et dAstrophysique de Grenoble, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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Space Telescope Science Institute
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Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Space Telescope Science Institute · European Space Agency
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European Space Agency (ESA), ESA Office, Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
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Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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Space Telescope Science Institute · Johns Hopkins University
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Center for Astrophysical Sciences, The William H. Miller III Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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Exoplanets & Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
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Space Telescope Science Institute
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Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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United States Naval Research Laboratory · Naval Research Laboratory Remote Sensing Division
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US Naval Research Laboratory, Remote Sensing Division, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, DC 20375, USA
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Astrobiology Center · National Astronomical Observatory of Japan · The University of Tokyo
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Astrobiology Center, 2-21-1, Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8588, Japan
Department of Astronomy, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines · Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives · Université Paris-Saclay · Maison de la Simulation
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Maison de la Simulation, CEA, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Sud, UVSQ, Universitè Paris-Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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California Institute of Technology · NASA Exoplanet Science Institute · Infrared Processing and Analysis Center
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Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Affiliation as printed
Space Sciences, Technologies, and Astrophysics Research (STAR) Institute, University of Liège, B-4000 Liège Belgium
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Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Aix-Marseille Université
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Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, CNES, LAM, Marseille, France
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Affiliation as printed
NASA Hubble Fellowship Program—Sagan Fellow
Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ 85721-0065 USA
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California Institute of Technology · Jet Propulsion Laboratory
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, M/S 321-100, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
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