Imaging Cool Giant Planets in Reflected Light: Science Investigations and Synergy with Habitable Planets

TL;DR

Upcoming 2020s observatories will enable detailed reflected light studies of cool giant exoplanets, aiding understanding of their evolution and informing future habitable planet research.

Contribution

This paper highlights the importance of reflected light observations of giant planets for planetary science and future habitable planet exploration.

Findings

Reflected light data help understand giant planet origins.

Such observations prepare us for studying habitable exoplanets.

Synergy between giant planet and terrestrial planet studies is emphasized.

Abstract

Planned astronomical observatories of the 2020s will be capable of obtaining reflected light photometry and spectroscopy of cool extrasolar giant planets. Here we explain that such data are valuable both for understanding the origin and evolution of giant planets as a whole and for preparing for the interpretation of similar datasets from potentially habitable extrasolar terrestrial planets in the decades to follow.