Exploring Earth-like Planets Around Cooler Stars

The SPECULOOS project, short for Search for habitable Planets EClipsing ULtra-cOOl Stars, is on an ambitious mission to discover temperate terrestrial planets orbiting nearby ultracool dwarfs. This includes late M-dwarfs and brown dwarfs, making them prime candidates for atmospheric studies using cutting-edge telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the future European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT).

A Collaborative Endeavor

Spearheaded by the University of Liège, SPECULOOS is a partnership of prestigious institutions including the University of Cambridge, the University of Birmingham, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Bern, and ETH Zurich. Together, they operate a groundbreaking network of robotic telescopes—four located at SPECULOOS-South in Chile and one currently at SPECULOOS-North in Tenerife, with plans for expansion.

Innovative Facilities Driving Discovery

Enhancing their efforts, the team also uses the SAINT-EX telescope in San Pedro Mártir, Mexico. As they celebrate five years of discovery, the project team reflects on their operational status, ongoing challenges, and groundbreaking scientific achievements.

Mapping the Mystery of Exoplanets

One of the intriguing aspects highlighted is the system architectures of 10 known planetary systems featuring at least two giant planets detected beyond the snow line. This data offers insights into how these systems vary with stellar mass, creating a rich tapestry of potential for further study.

The Future of Exoplanet Exploration

As the SPECULOOS project progresses, the team continues its commitment to unraveling the mysteries of our universe, searching for new worlds that could potentially harbor life. Their collaborative approach and cutting-edge technology position them at the forefront of exoplanet research, promising exciting revelations about the cosmos in the years to come.