Developing a vision for exoplanetary transit spectroscopy: a shared window on the analysis of planetary atmospheres and of stellar magnetic structure

TL;DR

This paper emphasizes the importance of considering stellar inhomogeneities caused by convection and magnetic fields for accurate exoplanetary atmosphere characterization, proposing a collaborative, multi-method approach.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive strategy combining solar spectra, advanced MHD modeling, and cross-disciplinary collaboration to disentangle stellar and planetary signals in transit spectra.

Findings

Stellar inhomogeneities significantly affect exoplanet atmosphere measurements.

A multipronged approach can effectively separate stellar and planetary signals.

Collaborative efforts across solar, stellar, and exoplanet research are essential.

Abstract

We describe how the accurate characterization of exoplanetary atmospheres in the ELT and JWST era will inevitably require taking into consideration the stellar inhomogeneities caused by convection and magnetic fields. The existing evidence that demonstrates the mixture of stellar and planetary signatures in observed transiting spectra is presented. Finally, we discuss how to disentangle these two components through a multipronged approach that includes new solar reference spectra, improved MHD modeling, and synergistic collaborations between the communities involved, from solar to stellar and exoplanet astronomers.