Laboratory for the Atmospheres of Planets of the Earth group and Earth-like Exoplanets

• We have obtained estimates of concentration and temperature of hydrogen atoms, length of exosphere of up to 40 Earth radiuses.
• For the first time we have discovered a Hadley cell of the upper cloud layer (55–67 km) on the dayside. Zonal and meridional components of wind velocity in the depth of the cloud layer of the atmosphere of Venus demonstrate correlation with height of landscape of underlying surface;.
• Our researchers have studied circulation of the atmosphere of Venus at altitudes between 90 and 100 km on the basis of О₂(a¹Δ_g) / 1,27 mkm luminescence according to data from the VIRTIS device.
• We have obtained horizontal velocity fields for the southern hemisphere of the nightside if Venus and found asymmetry of zonal and meridional components of velocity. We have found non-stable circular motions up to 4000 km.
• We have obtained preliminary spectrum of albedo of Venus in ultraviolet range from data of VIRTIS and SPICAV UV devices on the «Venus-Express» spacecraft and from detecting problems of data calibration during integration of spectra of different devices.
• Our researchers have developed an algorithm for reconstruction of NO luminescence in stellar eclipses using the «Venus-Express» spacecraft.
• Our researchers has studied the scale of altitudes of aerosol and qualities of stratified layers of overcloud smoke of Venus according to data from SPICAV IR on board of the «Venus-Express» spacecraft.
• We have obtained vertical profiles of density and relative H20 concentration in the atmosphere of Mars as well as density of CO2 for 28th and 29th Martian in its entirety and for the second half of years 30, 31, 32 and 33 (from SPICAV IR data).
• Our Laboratory has found increase of density and relative concentration of water vapor in the southern hemisphere over summer periods at altitudes of over 60 km. In the northern hemisphere increase is only visible only during the MY28 global dust thunder.
• We have analyzed data from SPICAV IR for the southern ice cap of Mars and obtained preliminary spectra of CO2 ice.
• The Laboratory has submitted a proposal to implement the coronagraph into Russian project «Spektr-UF».
• We have analyzed capabilities of increase of spectral resolution of the NES spectrograph installed at the BTA-6 telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences to research exoplanets. The analysis has shown that potentially the spectrograph can ensure R=110000.
• Our Laboratory has submitted an application for the «Zeiss-1M» telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences to conduct technical approbation of the method of stellar coronagraphy in a ground experiment.
• We have conducted mathematical modeling of of coronograph point dissipation accounting for aberrations of the main mirror of the «Zeiss-1M» telescope and shown possibility of cancellation of the axial source by an order of magnitude and more.

Education and career development:

• A new education course «Chemistry and spectroscopy of planetary atmospheres» for masters the Department of Space Physics of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
• 1 candidate dissertation has been defended.
• Postgraduates completed internships at LATMOS (France).
• The Laboratory has conducted a conference for young scientists «Fundamental and applied space research» (Russia, 2017).
• We have conducted a conference and a school for young scientists «Atmospheres of planets: from the Earth group to exoplanets» in collaboration with the Polar geophysical institute and the Laboratory of applied infrared spectroscopy of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Russia, 2017).

Collaborations:

• LATMOS (France): joint research, scientific events, publications, student exchanges 
• ACRI ST (France): joint research, access to data of the GOMOS experiment
• Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia): joint research and scientific publications, creation of new devices, developing new methods of research of exoplanets