{"id":112,"date":"2025-12-13T14:57:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T13:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/?page_id=112"},"modified":"2025-12-13T14:59:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T13:59:06","slug":"solarsystem-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/harmoni\/17-2\/solarsystem-2\/","title":{"rendered":"SolarSystem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

The Solar System: A new view of planetary systems close to home<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The Solar System provides a unique laboratory to study planetary formation, evolution, and ongoing physical processes at a level of detail that cannot be achieved for extrasolar systems. Spatially resolved spectroscopy of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets reveals their surface composition, atmospheric structure, and temporal variability<\/strong>, linking present-day observations to the history of the Solar System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its exceptional angular resolution, sensitivity, and integral-field capabilities, HARMONI on the ELT will transform Solar System studies<\/strong>, enabling observations that bridge the gap between in-situ spacecraft measurements and unresolved remote sensing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Spatially resolved spectroscopy of planetary surfaces<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many Solar System bodies exhibit strong spatial variability in composition and physical state. Understanding these variations requires spectroscopic mapping at high spatial resolution<\/strong>, particularly in the near-infrared where key diagnostic features are present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HARMONI will enable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Mapping of surface mineralogy and ices<\/strong> on asteroids, dwarf planets, and icy moons<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Studies of space weathering, impact processes, and surface evolution<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Investigation of compositional gradients linked to formation and thermal history<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    At ELT angular resolution, HARMONI will resolve surface features on nearby bodies at spatial scales previously accessible only to spacecraft, extending detailed compositional studies to a much broader range of objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    Atmospheres of planets and moons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Near-infrared spectroscopy provides access to a rich set of molecular tracers that probe the structure and chemistry of planetary atmospheres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Using HARMONI, astronomers will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Characterise atmospheric composition<\/strong> and vertical structure of giant planets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Study weather patterns, circulation, and temporal variability<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Investigate tenuous atmospheres and exospheres of moons and small bodies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Integral-field spectroscopy allows simultaneous measurement of spatial and spectral variations, enabling time-resolved studies of dynamic atmospheric processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n\n\n\n

      Small bodies: asteroids, comets, and active objects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Small bodies preserve some of the most pristine material from the early Solar System and play a central role in models of planetary formation and volatile delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      HARMONI will provide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • Spatially resolved spectroscopy of asteroid surfaces<\/strong>, revealing heterogeneity and collisional history<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Studies of cometary activity<\/strong>, including gas and dust release close to the nucleus<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Observations of active asteroids and transitional objects<\/strong>, probing the boundary between asteroids and comets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        These observations will help constrain the origin of water and organic material in the inner Solar System and provide context for sample-return missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n\n\n\n

        Time-variable phenomena and non-sidereal tracking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Many Solar System targets are time-variable<\/strong> and move rapidly on the sky. HARMONI is designed to support non-sidereal tracking<\/strong>, enabling efficient observations of moving targets such as near-Earth objects and comets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        This capability is essential to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Monitor short-timescale variability<\/strong> in atmospheres and comae<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Respond rapidly to newly discovered objects<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Track objects during close approaches, when spatial resolution and signal-to-noise are maximised<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Such flexibility is critical for Solar System science in the era of large synoptic surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n\n\n\n

          Complementarity with space missions and other facilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          HARMONI observations will be highly complementary to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          • Spacecraft missions, by providing global context for local measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • JWST, through higher spatial resolution on bright Solar System targets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Large survey facilities, by enabling detailed follow-up of newly identified objects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Together, these synergies will place Solar System studies within a broader framework of planetary science, linking local observations to extrasolar planetary systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n\n\n\n

            A cornerstone of comparative planetology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

            By delivering spatially resolved, high-quality spectroscopy of a wide range of Solar System bodies, HARMONI will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \n
            • Advance our understanding of planetary formation and evolution<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Provide critical benchmarks for interpreting exoplanet observations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Enable comparative studies across planets, moons, and small bodies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Solar System science is therefore a key pillar of HARMONI\u2019s scientific programme<\/strong>, demonstrating the power of ELT-class instrumentation to explore planetary systems both near and far<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              The Solar System: A new view of planetary systems close to home The Solar System provides a unique laboratory to study planetary formation, evolution, and ongoing physical processes at a level of detail that cannot be achieved for extrasolar systems. Spatially resolved spectroscopy of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets reveals their surface composition, atmospheric structure, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":17,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-112","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":114,"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/112\/revisions\/114"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.harmoni-elt.eu\/harmoni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}