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Björn Benneke

Björn Benneke

Exoplanètes et modèles d'atmosphère, spectroscopie dans le domaine infrarouge

Faculté des arts et des sciences - Département de physique

T. 514 343-5816

Research profile

Illustration of the planetary system of L 98-59. Five small exoplanets orbit closely around this red dwarf star, located 35 light-years away. In the foreground is the habitable-zone super-Earth L 98-59 f, whose existence was conùfirmed in this study. Credit: Benoît Gougeon/UdeM

Science

A diverse cast of rocky worlds around a small star revealed by Montreal astronomers

22 July 2025

Press release

Illustration of LTT 9779 b, the only known ultra-hot Neptune. This planet orbits so close to its star that its atmosphere is scorching hot, glowing from its own heat while also reflecting starlight. Because it is tidally locked - always showing the same side to its star - one half is permanently in daylight while the other remains in darkness. New JWST observations with NIRISS reveal a dynamic atmosphere: powerful winds sweep around the planet, shaping mineral clouds as they condense into a bright, white arc on the slightly cooler western side of the dayside. As these clouds move eastward, they evaporate under the intense heat, leaving the eastern dayside with clear skies.

Science

Today's forecast: partially cloudy skies on an "ultra-hot Neptune"

25 February 2025

Press release

The study found that the planet’s atmosphere contains a high concentration of heavier molecules, including a significant amount of water vapor.

Science

Astronomers probe a “steam world”

4 October 2024

Press release

Artist's concept of GJ 9827d. With only about twice Earth's diameter, the planet orbits the red dwarf star GJ 9827; two inner planets in the system are on the left.

Science

Water vapour discovered in a small exoplanet’s atmosphere

25 January 2024

Press release

The ultra-hot giant exoplanet WASP-76 b, depicted here, is an extremely hot world orbiting very close to its giant star.

Science

A scorching-hot exoplanet scrutinized by UdeM astronomers

14 June 2023

Press release

There’s an intriguing exoplanet out there – 400 light-years out there – that is so tantalising that astronomers have been studying it since its discovery in 2009. One orbit for WASP-18 b around its star that is slightly larger than our Sun takes just 23 hours.

Science

Canadian NIRISS instrument on Webb Maps an Ultra-Hot Jupiter’s Atmosphere

31 May 2023

Press release

LP 791-18 d, illustrated here, is an Earth-size world about 86 light-years away. The gravitational tug from a more massive planet in the system, shown as a blue dot in the background, may result in internal heating and volcanic eruptions on this exoplanet – as much as Jupiter’s moon Io, the most geologically active body in the Solar System.

Science

Found: a likely volcano-covered terrestrial world outside the Solar System

17 May 2023

Press release

Artistic representation of the planetary system of the star Kepler-138. We see Kepler-138 d in the foreground, and closer to the star, Kepler-138 c. These two planets are probably composed mainly of water. The small planet Kepler-138 b is seen transiting in front of the star. A fourth planet, Kepler-138 e, is further away and not visible in the image.

Science

Université de Montréal astronomers find that two exoplanets may be mostly water

15 December 2022

Press release

New observations of WASP-39b with the JWST have provided a clearer picture of the exoplanet, showing the presence of sodium, potassium, water, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide in the planet's atmosphere. This artist's illustration also displays newly detected patches of clouds scattered across the planet.

Science

An exoplanet atmosphere as never seen before

22 November 2022

Press release

Illustration showing what the exoplanet WASP-39 b could look like, based on current understanding of the planet.

Science

Signs of CO2 in a planet beyond our solar system

25 August 2022

Press release

The James Webb Space Telescope will become the most important observatory for thousands of astronomers around the world.

Science

James Webb Space Telescope: our experts speak out

24 November 2021

Article

Artist's rendition of the James Webb Space Telescope. (Source: NASA)

Science

Three UdeM astophysicists to help inaugurate the James Webb Space Telescope

28 October 2021

Press release

Artistic representation of the exoplanet Tau Boötis b and its host star, Tau Boötis

Science

A hot and dry Jupiter: SPIRou reveals the atmosphere of the exoplanet Tau Boötis b

28 July 2021

Press release

Artistic rendition of the exoplanet WASP-107b and its star, WASP-107. Some of the star's light streams through the exoplanet's extended gas layer.

Science

A ‘super-puff’ planet like no other

18 January 2021

Press release

Faculty experts (fr)

In the media (fr)