Retrieval of Planetary Rotation and Albedo from DSCOVR data

TL;DR

This paper explores methods to retrieve planetary albedos and rotation rates from undersampled imaging data, using DSCOVR's high cadence Earth observations as a test case for future exoplanet characterization.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for extracting planetary properties from limited data, demonstrating its potential with DSCOVR's instruments for future exoplanet studies.

Findings

Demonstrated retrieval of Earth's rotation from DSCOVR data

Showed potential for albedo estimation with undersampled imaging

Discussed implications for future exoplanet missions

Abstract

The field of exoplanets has rapidly expanded from the exclusivity of exoplanet detection to include exoplanet characterization. A key step towards this characterization will be retrieval of planetary albedos and rotation rates from highly undersampled imaging data. The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) provides a unique opportunity to test such retrieval methods using high cadence data of the sunlit surface of the Earth. There are two NASA instruments on board DSCOVR that can be used to achieve this task: the NASA instruments Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer (NISTAR). Here we briefly describe the properties of these instruments and the exoplanetary science that can be explored with their data products. These are described within the context of future NASA direct imaging missions for exoplanets.