TY - JOUR
T1 - LOUPE: Observing Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets
T2 - Observing Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets: LOUPE: Observing Earth from the Moon
AU - Klindzic, D.
AU - Stam, D.M.
AU - Snik, Frans
AU - Hoeijmakers, Jens
AU - Willebrands, Michelle
AU - Karalidi, Teodora
AU - Pallichadath, V.
AU - van Dijk, Chris
AU - Esposito, Marco
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - LOUPE, the Lunar Observatory for Unresolved Polarimetry of the Earth, is a small, robust spectro-polarimeter for observing the Earth as an exoplanet. Detecting Earth-like planets in stellar habitable zones is one of the key challenges of modern exoplanetary science. Characterizing such planets and searching for traces of life requires the direct detection of their signals. LOUPE provides unique spectral flux and polarization data of sunlight reflected by Earth, the only planet known to harbour life. These 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. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades'.
AB - LOUPE, the Lunar Observatory for Unresolved Polarimetry of the Earth, is a small, robust spectro-polarimeter for observing the Earth as an exoplanet. Detecting Earth-like planets in stellar habitable zones is one of the key challenges of modern exoplanetary science. Characterizing such planets and searching for traces of life requires the direct detection of their signals. LOUPE provides unique spectral flux and polarization data of sunlight reflected by Earth, the only planet known to harbour life. These 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. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Astronomy from the Moon: the next decades'.
KW - spectropolarimetry
KW - exoplanets
KW - Earth observation
KW - lunar science
KW - Earth as an exoplanet
KW - LOUPE
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096628188&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1098/rsta.2019.0577
DO - 10.1098/rsta.2019.0577
M3 - Article
VL - 379
JO - Royal Society of London. Philosophical Transactions A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
JF - Royal Society of London. Philosophical Transactions A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
SN - 1364-503X
IS - 2188
M1 - 20190577
ER -