LOUPE: Observing Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets
arXiv:2007.16078 · doi:10.1098/rsta.2019.0577
Abstract
LOUPE, the Lunar Observatory for Unresolved Polarimetry of the Earth, is a small, robust spectro-polarimeter with a mission to observe the Earth as an exoplanet. Detecting Earth-like planets in stellar habitable zones is one of the key challenges of modern exoplanetary science. Characterising such planets and searching for traces of life requires the direct detection of their signals. LOUPE provides unique spectral flux and polarisation data of sunlight reflected by the Earth, the only planet known to harbor life. This data will be used to test numerical codes to predict signals of Earth-like exoplanets, to test algorithms that retrieve planet properties, and to fine-tune the design and observational strategies of future space observatories. From the Moon, LOUPE will continuously see the entire Earth, enabling it to monitor the signal changes due to the planet's daily rotation, weather patterns, and seasons, across all phase angles. Here, we present both the science case and the technology behind LOUPE's instrumental and mission design.
arXiv comment13 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Royal Society Philosophical Transactions A. Corrected typos in v2
References in corpus (19)
- Exoplanet Biosignatures: Understanding Oxygen as a Biosignature in the Context of Its Environment
- A Revised Exoplanet Yield from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
- Alien Maps of an Ocean-Bearing World
- Spectropolarimetric signatures of Earth-like extrasolar planets
- Detection of Ocean Glint and Ozone Absorption Using LCROSS Earth Observations
- Using Deep Space Climate Observatory Measurements to Study the Earth as An Exoplanet
- Looking for the rainbow on exoplanets covered by liquid and icy water clouds
- Measurement of the earthshine polarization in the B, V, R, and I band as function of phase
- Phase Variation of Earthshine Polarization Spectra
- Circular spectropolarimetric sensing of vegetation in the field; possibilities for the remote detection of extraterrestrial life
- Circular polarization signals of cloudy (exo)planets
- Observing the Earth as an exoplanet with LOUPE, the Lunar Observatory for Unresolved Polarimetry of Earth
- Blue, white, and red ocean planets - Simulations of orbital variations in flux and polarization colors
- The O2 A-band in fluxes and polarization of starlight reflected by Earth-like exoplanets
- Using polarimetry to retrieve the cloud coverage of Earth-like exoplanets
- Global Mapping of an Exo-Earth using Sparse Modeling
- Spectral and Temporal Variability of Earth Observed in Polarization
- Classical polarimetry with a twist: a compact, geometric approach
- Colors of an Earth-like exoplanet -- Temporal flux and polarization signals of the Earth
Cited by in corpus (5)
- Directional aspects of vegetation linear and circular polarization biosignatures
- Effect of multiple scattering on the Transmission spectra and the Polarization phase curves for Earth-like Exoplanets
- Astronomy from the Moon: From Exoplanets to Cosmology in Visible Light and Beyond
- Ocean signatures in the total flux and polarization spectra of Earth-like exoplanets
- Searching for technosignatures in exoplanetary systems with current and future missions