Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Research Articles

An Informed and Systematic Method to Identify Variable Mid-L Dwarfs

Most brown dwarfs show some level of photometric or spectral variability. However, finding the most variable dwarfs more suited for a thorough variability monitoring campaign remained a challenge until a few years ago with the design of spectral indices to find the most likely L and T dwarfs using their near-infrared (NIR) single-epoch spectrum. In this work, we designed and tested NIR spectral indices to preselect the most likely variable L4–L8 dwarfs, complementing the indices presented by Ashraf et al. and Oliveros-Gomez et al. We used time-resolved NIR Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 spectra of an L6.0 dwarf, LP 261–75b, to design our novel spectral indices. We tested these spectral indices on 75 L4.0–L8.0 NIR SpeX/IRTF spectra, providing 27 new variable candidates. Our indices have a recovery rate of ∼80% and a false negative rate of ∼25%. All the known nonvariable brown dwarfs were found to be nonvariable by our indices. We estimated the variability fraction of our sample to be 51−38+4 %, which agrees with the variability fractions provided by Buenzli et al., Radigan et al., and Metchev et al. for L4–L8 dwarfs. These spectral indices may support the future selection of the most likely variable directly imaged exoplanets for studies with the James Webb Space Telescope and as well as the 30 m telescopes.

Growing a nuclear star cluster from star formation and cluster mergers: The JWST NIRSpec view of NGC 4654

We present a detailed study of the centre of NGC\,4654, a Milky Way-like spiral galaxy in the Virgo cluster that has been reported to host a double stellar nucleus, thus promising a rare view of ongoing star cluster infall into a galaxy nucleus. Analysing JWST NIRSpec integral-field spectroscopic data in combination with Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 imaging of the inner 330 times 330 pc, we find that the NGC\,4645 nucleus is in fact more complex than previously thought, harbouring three massive star clusters within 32 pc of the centre. Maps of infrared emission lines in the NIRSpec spectra show different morphologies for the ionised and molecular gas components. The emission from molecular hydrogen gas is concentrated at the nuclear star cluster (NSC) location, while emission from hydrogen recombination lines is more extended beyond the central cluster. The velocity fields of both gas and stars indicate that the three clusters are part of a complicated dynamical system, with the NSC having an elevated velocity dispersion in line with its high stellar mass. To investigate the stellar populations of the three clusters in more detail, we used surface brightness modelling to measure their fluxes from UV to mid-infrared wavelengths. This information, together with spectroscopically derived extinction values, are then used to fit the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the clusters. Two of the clusters are UV-bright and well described by single stellar populations with young ages (sim 3 and 5 Myr) and relatively low masses ($M_ M_ and $M_ M_ respectively), whereas the central cluster is much more massive ($M_ 10^7 M_ and cannot be fitted by a single stellar population. Instead, we find that the presence of a minor young population (sim 1\,Myr, $M_ M_ embedded in a dominant old population (sim 8\,Gyr) is required to explain its SED. Given its complex composition and the close proximity of two young star clusters that are likely to merge with it within a few hundred million years, we consider the nucleus of NGC\,4654 a unique laboratory to study NSC growth from both in situ star formation and the infall of star clusters.

Time-resolved Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 Spectrophotometry Reveals Inefficient Day-to-night Heat Redistribution in the Highly Irradiated Brown Dwarf SDSS 1557B

Brown dwarfs (BDs) in ultra-short-period orbits around white dwarfs (WDs) offer a unique opportunity to study the properties of tidally locked, fast-rotating (1–3 hr), and highly irradiated atmospheres. Here we present phase-resolved spectrophotometry of the WD–BD binary SDSS 1557, which is the fifth WD–BD binary in our six-object sample. Using the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 Near-infrared G141 instrument, the 1.1–1.7 μm phase curves show rotational modulations with semiamplitudes of 10.5% ± 0.1%. We observe a wavelength-dependent amplitude, with longer wavelengths producing larger amplitudes, while no wavelength-dependent phase shifts were identified. The phase-resolved extracted BD spectra exhibit steep slopes and are nearly featureless. A simple radiative energy redistribution atmospheric model re-creates the hemisphere-integrated brightness temperatures at three distinct phases and finds evidence for weak redistribution efficiency. Our model also predicts a higher inclination than previously published. We find that SDSS 1557B, the second most irradiated BD in our sample, is likely dominated by clouds on the nightside, whereas the featureless dayside spectrum is likely dominated by H− opacity and a temperature inversion, much like the other highly irradiated BD EPIC 2122B.

Lyman Continuum Emission from Active Galactic Nuclei at 2.3 ≲ z ≲ 3.7 in the UVCANDELS Fields

We present the results of our search for Lyman continuum (LyC)-emitting (weak) active galactic nuclei (AGN) at redshifts 2.3 ≲ z ≲ 4.9 from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) F275W observations in the Ultraviolet Imaging of the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (UVCANDELS) fields. We also include LyC emission from AGN using HST WFC3 F225W, F275W, and F336W imaging found in Early Release Science (ERS) and Hubble Deep UV Legacy Survey data. We performed exhaustive queries of the Vizier database to locate AGN with high-quality spectroscopic redshifts. In total, we found 51 AGN that met our criteria within the UVCANDELS and ERS footprints. Out of these 51, we find 12 AGN that had ≥4σ detected LyC flux in the WFC3/UVIS images. Using a wide variety of space-based plus ground-based data, ranging from X-ray to radio wavelengths, we fit the multiwavelength photometric data of each AGN to a CIGALE spectral energy distribution (SED) using AGN models and correlate various SED parameters to the LyC flux. Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests of the SED parameter distributions for the LyC-detected and nondetected AGN showed they are likely not distinct samples. However, we find that the X-ray luminosity, star formation onset age, and disk luminosity show strong correlations relative to their emitted LyC flux. We also find strong correlations of the LyC flux to several dust parameters, i.e., polar and toroidal dust emission and 6 μm luminosity, and anticorrelations with metallicity and A FUV. We simulate the LyC escape fraction (f esc) using the CIGALE and intergalactic medium transmission models for the LyC-detected AGN and find an average f esc ≃ 18%, weighted by uncertainties. We stack the LyC fluxes of subsamples of AGN according to the wavelength continuum region in which they are detected and find no significant distinctions in their LyC emission, although our submillimeter-detected F336W sample (3.15 < z < 3.71) shows the brightest stacked LyC flux. These findings indicate that LyC production and escape in AGN are more complicated than the simple assumption of thermal emission and a 100% escape fraction. Further testing of AGN models with larger samples than presented here is needed.

Quasar Sightline and Galaxy Evolution (QSAGE) – III. The mass–metallicity and fundamental metallicity relation of z ≈ 2.2 galaxies

ABSTRACT We present analysis of the mass–metallicity relation (MZR) for a sample of 67 [O iii]-selected star-forming (SF) galaxies at a redshift range of z = 1.99−2.32 (zmed = 2.16) using Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 grism spectroscopy from the Quasar Sightline and Galaxy Evolution survey. Metallicities were determined using empirical gas-phase metallicity calibrations based on the strong emission lines [O ii]3727, 3729, [O iii]4959, 5007 and Hβ. SF galaxies were identified, and distinguished from active-galactic nuclei, via Mass–Excitation diagrams. Using z ∼ 0 metallicity calibrations, we observe a negative offset in the z = 2.2 MZR of ≈−0.51 dex in metallicity when compared to locally derived relationships, in agreement with previous literature analysis. A similar offset of ≈−0.46 dex in metallicity is found when using empirical metallicity calibrations that are suitable out to z ∼ 5, though our z = 2.2 MZR, in this case, has a shallower slope. We find agreement between our MZR and those predicted from various galaxy evolution models and simulations. Additionally, we explore the extended fundamental metallicity relation (FMR) which includes an additional dependence on star formation rate. Our results consistently support the existence of the FMR, as well as revealing an offset of 0.28 ± 0.04 dex in metallicity compared to locally derived relationships, consistent with previous studies at similar redshifts. We interpret the negative correlation with SFR at fixed mass, inferred from an FMR existing for our sample, as being caused by the efficient accretion of metal-poor gas fuelling SFR at cosmic noon.

UV-optical Emission of AB Aur b Is Consistent with Scattered Stellar Light

The proposed protoplanet AB Aur b is a spatially concentrated emission source imaged in the millimeter-wavelength disk gap of the Herbig Ae/Be star AB Aur. Its near-infrared spectrum and absence of strong polarized light have been interpreted as evidence supporting the protoplanet interpretation. However, the complex scattered-light structures in the AB Aur disk pose challenges in resolving the emission source and interpreting the true nature of AB Aur b. We present new images of the AB Aur system obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 in the ultraviolet (UV) and optical bands. AB Aur b and the known disk spirals are recovered in the F336W, F410M, and F645N bands. The spectral energy distribution of AB Aur b shows absorption in the Balmer jump, mimicking that of early-type stars. By comparing the colors of AB Aur b to those of the host star, the disk spirals, and predictions from scattered light and self-luminous models, we find that the emission from AB Aur b is inconsistent with planetary photospheric or accretion shock models. Instead, it is consistent with those measured in the circumstellar disks that trace scattered light. We conclude that the UV and visible emission from AB Aur b does not necessitate the presence of a protoplanet. We synthesize observational constraints on AB Aur b and discuss inconsistent interpretations among different data sets. Considering the significance of the AB Aur b discovery, we advocate for further observational evidence to verify its planetary nature.

The Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury. XXI. The Legacy Resolved Stellar Photometry Catalog

We present the final legacy version of stellar photometry for the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) survey. We have reprocessed all of the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys near-ultraviolet (F275W, F336W), optical (F475W, F814W), and near-infrared (F110W, F160W) imaging from the PHAT survey using an improved method that optimized the survey depth and chip-gap coverage by including all overlapping exposures in all bands in the photometry. An additional improvement was gained through the use of charge transfer efficiency (CTE)–corrected input images, which provide more complete star finding as well as more reliable photometry for the NUV bands, which had no CTE correction in the previous version of the PHAT photometry. While this method requires significantly more computing resources and time than earlier versions where the photometry was performed on individual pointings, it results in smaller systematic instrumental completeness variations as demonstrated by cleaner maps in stellar density, and it results in optimal constraints on stellar fluxes in all bands from the survey data. Our resulting catalog has 138 million stars, 18% more than the previous catalog, with lower density regions gaining as much as 40% more stars. The new catalog produces nearly seamless population maps that show relatively well-mixed distributions for populations associated with ages older than 1–2 Gyr and highly structured distributions for the younger populations.

Temporal Variations in Vertical Cloud Structure of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Its Surroundings and Oval BA From HST/WFC3 Imaging

AbstractIn this study, we present the evolution of the properties and vertical distribution of the hazes in Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS), its surroundings and Oval BA from 2015 to 2021. To retrieve the main atmospheric parameters, we model the spectral reflectivity of a number of dynamically and/or spectrally interesting regions with a radiative transfer tool that uses an optimal estimator scheme. The spectra of the selected regions are obtained from high‐resolution Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 images that cover the spectral range from 200 to 900 nm. The a priori model atmosphere used to describe the various Jovian regions is taken from Anguiano‐Arteaga et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JE006996) for each corresponding area. We find that the biggest variations in the GRS occur in the optical thickness of the stratospheric and tropospheric haze layers starting in 2019 and in the mean size of the tropospheric haze particles in 2018. The absorption spectra of both hazes show little variations among the analyzed regions and years, with the stratospheric haze properties seeming compatible with the chromophore proposed by Carlson et al. (2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.03.008). We report a color change of Oval BA from red to white during these years that, according to our models, can be mostly explained in terms of a decrease in the stratospheric haze optical depth.

Varstrometry for Off-nucleus and Dual Subkiloparsec AGN (VODKA). SDSS J1608+2716: A Subarcsecond Quadruply Lensed Quasar at z = 2.575

We report Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 deep IR (F160W) imaging of SDSS J1608+2716. This system, located at a redshift of z = 2.575, was recently reported as a triple-quasar candidate with subarcsecond separations (∼0.″25) based on selection from Gaia astrometry and follow-up Keck adaptive optics–assisted integral field unit spectroscopy. Our new HST deep IR imaging reveals the presence of a fourth point-like component located ∼0.″9 away from the triple system. Additionally, we detect an edge-on disk galaxy located in between the four point sources. The entire system exhibits a characteristic cusp structure in the context of strong gravitational lensing, and the observed image configuration can be successfully reproduced using a lens model based on a singular isothermal ellipsoid mass profile. These findings indicate that this system is a quadruply lensed quasar. Our results highlight the challenges associated with identifying dual/multiple quasars on ∼kiloparsec scales at high redshifts and emphasize the crucial role of deep, high-resolution IR imaging in robustly confirming such systems.

Water Absorption in the Transmission Spectrum of the Water World Candidate GJ 9827 d

Recent work on the characterization of small exoplanets has allowed us to accumulate growing evidence that sub-Neptunes with radii greater than ∼2.5 R ⊕ often host H2/He-dominated atmospheres both from measurements of their low bulk densities and from direct detections of their low mean molecular mass atmospheres. However, the smaller sub-Neptunes in the 1.5–2.2 R ⊕ size regime are much less understood and often have bulk densities that can be explained either by the H2/He-rich scenario or by a volatile-dominated composition known as the “water world” scenario. Here we report the detection of water vapor in the transmission spectrum of the 1.96 ± 0.08 R ⊕ sub-Neptune GJ 9827 d obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We observe 11 HST Wide Field Camera 3 transits of GJ 9827 d and find an absorption feature at 1.4 μm in its transit spectrum, which is best explained (at 3.39σ) by the presence of water in GJ 9827 d’s atmosphere. We further show that this feature cannot be caused by unocculted starspots during the transits by combining an analysis of the K2 photometry and transit light source effect retrievals. We reveal that the water absorption feature can be similarly well explained by a small amount of water vapor in a cloudy H2/He atmosphere or a water vapor envelope on GJ 9827 d. Given that recent studies have inferred an important mass-loss rate (>0.5 M ⊕ Gyr−1) for GJ 9827 d, making it unlikely to retain a H-dominated envelope, our findings highlight GJ 9827 d as a promising water world candidate that could host a volatile-dominated atmosphere. This water detection also makes GJ 9827 d the smallest exoplanet with an atmospheric molecular detection to date.

Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the compact elliptical galaxy M32 reveals a dearth of carbon stars

ABSTRACT We present new Hubble Space Telescope Wide-Field Camera 3/infrared medium-band photometry of the compact elliptical galaxy M32, chemically resolving its thermally pulsating asymptotic giant branch stars. We find 2829 M-type stars and 57 C stars. The carbon stars are likely contaminants from M31. If carbon stars are present in M32 they are so in very low numbers. The uncorrected C/M ratio is 0.020 ± 0.003; this drops to less than 0.007 after taking into account contamination from M31. As the mean metallicity of M32 is just below solar, this low ratio of C to M stars is unlikely due to a metallicity ceiling for the formation of carbon stars. Instead, the age of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) population is likely to be the primary factor. The ratio of AGB to red giant branch stars in M32 is similar to that of the inner disc of M31 which contain stars that formed 1.5–4 Gyr ago. If the M32 population is at the older end of this age then its lack of C-stars may be consistent with a narrow mass range for carbon star formation predicted by some stellar evolution models. Applying our chemical classifications to the dusty variable stars identified with Spitzer, we find that the x-AGB candidates identified with Spitzer are predominately M-type stars. This substantially increases the lower limit to the cumulative dust-production rate in M32 to &amp;gt; 1.20 × 10−5${\rm M}_{\odot } \, {\rm yr}^{-1}$.

Confirmation of Subsolar Metallicity for WASP-77Ab from JWST Thermal Emission Spectroscopy

We present the dayside thermal emission spectrum of WASP-77Ab from 2.8 to 5.2 μm as observed with the NIRSpec instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). WASP-77Ab was previously found to have a subsolar metallicity and a solar carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio from H2O and CO absorption lines detected using high-resolution spectroscopy. By performing atmospheric retrievals on the JWST spectrum assuming chemical equilibrium, we find a subsolar metallicity [M/H] = and C/O ratio . We identify H2O and CO and constrain their abundances, and we find no CO2 in the spectrum. The JWST and high-resolution spectroscopy results agree within ∼1σ for the metallicity and within 1.8σ for the C/O ratio. However, our results fit less well in the picture painted by the shorter wavelength spectrum measured by Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3. Comparing the JWST thermal emission spectra of WASP-77Ab and HD 149026b shows that both hot Jupiters have nearly identical brightness temperatures in the near-infrared but distinctly different atmospheric compositions. Our results reaffirm high-resolution spectroscopy as a powerful and reliable method to measure molecular abundances. Our results also highlight the incredible diversity of hot Jupiter atmospheric compositions.

The Nature of LoBAL QSOs. II. HST/WFC3 Observations Reveal Host Galaxies Dominated by Mergers

Low-ionization broad absorption line QSOs (LoBALs) are suspected to be merging systems in which extreme, active galactic nucleus-driven outflows have been triggered. Whether or not LoBALs are uniquely associated with mergers, however, has yet to be established. To characterize the morphologies of LoBALs, we present the first high-resolution morphological analysis of a volume-limited sample of 22 Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-selected LoBALs at 0.5 < z < 0.6 from Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 observations. Host galaxies are resolved in 86% of the systems in F125W, which is sensitive to old stellar populations, while only 18% are detected in F475W, which traces young, unobscured stellar populations. Signs of recent or ongoing tidal interaction are present in 45%–64% of the hosts, including double nuclei, tidal tails, bridges, plumes, shells, and extended debris. Ongoing interaction with a companion is apparent in 27%−41% of the LoBALs, with as much as 1/3 of the sample representing late-stage mergers at projected nuclear separations <10 kpc. Detailed surface brightness modeling indicates that 41% of the hosts are bulge dominated while only 18% are disks. We discuss trends in various properties as a function of merger stage and parametric morphology. Notably, mergers are associated with slower, dustier winds than those seen in undisturbed/unresolved hosts. Our results favor an evolutionary scenario in which quasar-level accretion during various merger stages is associated with the observed outflows in low-z LoBALs. We discuss differences between LoBALs and FeLoBALs and show that selection via the traditional balnicity index would have excluded all but one of the mergers.

The MUSE Ultra Deep Field (MUDF). III. Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 Grism Spectroscopy and Imaging

We present extremely deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) observations of the MUSE Ultra Deep Field. This unique region of the sky contains two quasars at z ≈ 3.22 that are separated by only ∼500 kpc, providing a stereoscopic view of gas and galaxies in emission and absorption across ∼10 billion years of cosmic time. We have obtained 90 orbits of HST WFC3 G141 near-infrared grism spectroscopy of this field in a single pointing, as well as 142 hr of optical spectroscopy with the Very Large Telescope Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE). The WFC3 (F140W, F125W, and F336W) and archival WFPC2 (F702W and F450W) imaging provides five-filter photometry that we use to detect 3375 sources between z ≈ 0–6, including 1536 objects in a deep central pointing with both spectroscopic and photometric coverage. The F140W and F336W mosaics reach exceptional depths of m AB ≈ 28 and 29, respectively, providing near-infrared and rest-frame ultraviolet information for 1580 sources, and we reach 5σ continuum detections for objects as faint as m AB ≈ 27 in the grism spectra. The extensive wavelength coverage of MUSE and WFC3 allows us to measure spectroscopic redshifts for 419 sources, down to galaxy stellar masses of log(M/M ⊙) ≈7 at z ≈ 1–2. In this publication, we provide the calibrated HST data and source catalogs as High Level Science Products for use by the community, which includes photometry, morphology, and redshift measurements that enable a variety of studies aimed at advancing our models of galaxy formation and evolution in different environments.

Hubble Space Telescope Transmission Spectroscopy for the Temperate Sub-Neptune TOI-270 d: A Possible Hydrogen-rich Atmosphere Containing Water Vapor

TOI-270 d is a temperate sub-Neptune discovered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) around a bright (J = 9.1 mag) M3V host star. With an approximate radius of 2 R ⊕ and equilibrium temperature of 350 K, TOI-270 d is one of the most promising small exoplanets for atmospheric characterization using transit spectroscopy. Here we present a primary transit observation of TOI-270 d made with the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) spectrograph across the 1.126–1.644 μm wavelength range, and a 95% credible upper limit of 8.2 × 10−14 erg s−1 cm−2 Å−1 arcsec−2 for the stellar Lyα emission obtained using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The transmission spectrum derived from the TESS and WFC3 data provides evidence for molecular absorption by a hydrogen-rich atmosphere at 4σ significance relative to a featureless spectrum. The strongest evidence for any individual absorber is obtained for H2O, which is favored at 3σ significance. When retrieving on the WFC3 data alone and allowing for the possibility of a heterogeneous stellar brightness profile, the detection significance of H2O is reduced to 2.8σ. Further observations are therefore required to robustly determine the atmospheric composition of TOI-270 d and assess the impact of stellar heterogeneity. If confirmed, our findings would make TOI-270 d one of the smallest and coolest exoplanets to date with detected atmospheric spectral features.

CLEAR: Spatially Resolved Emission Lines and Active Galactic Nuclei at 0.6 < z < 1.3

We investigate spatially resolved emission-line ratios in a sample of 219 galaxies (0.6 < z < 1.3) detected using the G102 grism on the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 taken as part of the CANDELS Lyα Emission at Reionization survey to measure ionization profiles and search for low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGN). We analyze [O iii] and Hβ emission-line maps, enabling us to spatially resolve the [O iii]/Hβ emission-line ratio across the galaxies in the sample. We compare the [O iii]/Hβ ratio in galaxy centers and outer annular regions to measure ionization differences and investigate the potential of sources with nuclear ionization to host AGN. We investigate some of the individual galaxies that are candidates to host strong nuclear ionization and find that they often have low stellar mass and are undetected in X-rays, as expected for low-luminosity AGN in low-mass galaxies. We do not find evidence for a significant population of off-nuclear AGN or other clumps of off-nuclear ionization. We model the observed distribution of [O iii]/Hβ spatial profiles and find that most galaxies are consistent with a small or zero difference between their nuclear and off-nuclear line ratios, but 6%–16% of galaxies in the sample are likely to host nuclear [O iii]/Hβ that is ∼0.5 dex higher than in their outer regions. This study is limited by large uncertainties in most of the measured [O iii]/Hβ spatial profiles; therefore, deeper data, e.g., from deeper HST/WFC3 programs or from JWST/NIRISS, are needed to more reliably measure the spatially resolved emission-line conditions of individual high-redshift galaxies.

Roaring Storms in the Planetary-mass Companion VHS 1256-1257 b: Hubble Space Telescope Multiepoch Monitoring Reveals Vigorous Evolution in an Ultracool Atmosphere

The photometric and spectral variability of brown dwarfs probes heterogeneous temperature and cloud distributions and traces the atmospheric circulation patterns. We present a new 42 hr Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 G141 spectral time series of VHS 1256-1257 b, a late L-type planetary-mass companion that has been shown to have one of the highest variability amplitudes among substellar objects. The light curve is rapidly evolving and best fit by a combination of three sine waves with different periods and a linear trend. The amplitudes of the sine waves and the linear slope vary with the wavelength, and the corresponding spectral variability patterns match the predictions by models invoking either heterogeneous clouds or thermal profile anomalies. Combining these observations with previous HST monitoring data, we find that the peak-to-valley flux difference is 33% ± 2% with an even higher amplitude reaching 38% in the J band, the highest amplitude ever observed in a substellar object. The observed light curve can be explained by maps that are composed of zonal waves, spots, or a mixture of the two. Distinguishing the origin of rapid light curve evolution requires additional long-term monitoring. Our findings underscore the essential role of atmospheric dynamics in shaping brown-dwarf atmospheres and highlight VHS 1256-1257 b as one of the most favorable targets for studying the atmospheres, clouds, and atmospheric circulation of planets and brown dwarfs.

Informed Systematic Method to Identify Variable Mid- and Late-T Dwarfs

The majority of brown dwarfs show some level of photometric or spectrophotometric variability in different wavelength ranges. This variability allow us to trace the 3D atmospheric structures of variable brown dwarfs and directly-imaged exoplanets with radiative-transfer models and mapping codes. Nevertheless, to date, we do not have an informed method to preselect the brown dwarfs that might show a higher variability amplitude for a thorough variability study. In this work, we designed and tested near-infrared spectral indices to preselect the most likely variable mid- and late-T dwarfs, which overlap in effective temperatures with directly-imaged exoplanets. We used time-resolved near-infrared Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 spectra of a T6.5 dwarf, 2MASS J22282889–431026, to design our novel spectral indices. We tested these spectral indices on 26 T5.5–T7.5 near-infrared SpeX/IRTF spectra, and we provided eight new mid- and late-T variable candidates. We estimated the variability fraction of our sample as %, which agrees with the variability fractions provided by Metchev for mid- to late-T dwarfs. In addition, two of the three previously known variables in our sample of SpeX spectra are flagged as variable candidates by our indices. Similarly, all seven known nonvariables in our sample are flagged as nonvariable objects by our indices. These results suggest that our spectral indices might be used to find variable mid- and late-T brown dwarf variables. These indices may be crucial in the future to select cool directly-imaged exoplanets for variability studies.

CLEAR: The Evolution of Spatially Resolved Star Formation in Galaxies between 0.5 ≲ z ≲ 1.7 Using Hα Emission Line Maps

Using spatially resolved Hα emission line maps of star-forming galaxies, we study the spatial distribution of star formation over a wide range in redshift (0.5 ≲ z ≲ 1.7). Our z ∼ 0.5 measurements come from deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 G102 grism spectroscopy obtained as part of the CANDELS Lyα Emission at Reionization Experiment. For star-forming galaxies with log(M */M ⊙) ≥ 8.96, the mean Hα effective radius is 1.2 ± 0.1 times larger than that of the stellar continuum, implying inside-out growth via star formation. This measurement agrees within 1σ with those measured at z ∼ 1 and z ∼ 1.7 from the 3D-HST and KMOS3D surveys, respectively, implying no redshift evolution. However, we observe redshift evolution in the stellar mass surface density within 1 kpc (Σ1kpc). Star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 0.5 with a stellar mass of log(M */M ⊙) = 9.5 have a ratio of Σ1kpc in Hα relative to their stellar continuum that is lower by (19 ± 2)% compared to z ∼ 1 galaxies. Σ1kpc,Hα /Σ1kpc,Cont decreases toward higher stellar masses. The majority of the redshift evolution in Σ1kpc,Hα /Σ1kpc,Cont versus stellar mass stems from the fact that log(Σ1kpc,Hα ) declines twice as much as log(Σ1kpc,Cont) from z ∼ 1 to 0.5 (at a fixed stellar mass of log(M */M ⊙) = 9.5). By comparing our results to the TNG50 cosmological magneto-hydrodynamical simulation, we rule out dust as the driver of this evolution. Our results are consistent with inside-out quenching following in the wake of inside-out growth, the former of which drives the significant drop in Σ1kpc,Hα from z ∼ 1 to z ∼ 0.5.

Investigating temporal changes in Jupiter’s aerosol structure with rotationally-averaged 2015–2020 HST WFC3 images

Annual imaging observations of Jupiter from 2015 onward by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) as part of the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program (Simon et al., 2015) have provided a valuable data set from which Jupiter’s temporal variability can be characterized and modeled. Spectral samples at discrete filter bands from the UV to short near-IR wavelengths also provide an opportunity to connect temporal changes in reflectivity with temporal changes in cloud structure. To improve constraints on that cloud structure we used center-to-limb variations that were noise-reduced by rotational averaging during each annual OPAL observation sequence. Fitting observations at multiple and distinctly different observer zenith angles helps to make up for the lack of multiple methane-band filters in discerning the vertical distribution of aerosols. The short-wavelength limit of the OPAL observations also provides better constraints than ground-based observation on the properties of Jupiter’s chromophore, i.e., the compound that creates Jupiter’s variety of red colorations to clouds and hazes composed mainly of colorless condensates. We chose four latitudes to investigate with radiative transfer models based on a simple 3-layer aerosol structure consisting of a deep putative NH3 cloud layer, with a physically thin chromophore layer that has a fitted location at or near the top of the deep cloud, and an overlying stratospheric haze layer. Our chosen planetocentric latitudes were 5.5°S (Equatorial Zone South,EZS), 0° (Equatorial Zone, EZ), 10°N (North Equatorial Belt, NEB), and 21.75°N (North Temperate Belt, NTB). Two major color transformations occurred during the 2015–2020 period we analyzed. One is a dramatic dimming of the center of the Equatorial Zone at short wavelengths, especially after 2017, and a significant reddening of that region. The second is a significant reddening of part of the North Temperate Belt (near 22°N) between 2016 and 2017. Both reddening events can be modeled by doubling of the optical depth of the chromophore layer during the transitions. Comparison with prior 2017 model results for the NEB, EZ, and NTB have revealed agreement with Braude et al. (2020) on the vertical location of the chromophore layer but disagreements on cloud-top pressures and the vertical distribution of stratospheric haze particles. We identified what seems to be common tendency of models based on HST/WFC3 observations to either infer very little stratospheric haze opacity or to put that opacity at too high a pressure.