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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1–2Cite as

Exozodiacal Light

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Synonyms

Exozodi

Definition

The exozodiacal light is the analog in extrasolar planetary systems of the zodiacal light seen in the solar system. It corresponds to the light emitted by the central star, scattered – or reemitted in the infrared – by interplanetary small dust particles concentrated in the mean orbital planetary plane, that is, the local ecliptic. It is often abbreviated as exozodi. This may be a strong emission that can prevent direct detection of planets belonging to the system.

Overview

In the solar system, the zodiacal light appears as a flame-shaped glow just above the horizon, visible to the naked eye in good atmospheric conditions and when the moon has not risen. It is seen only toward the west after sunset or in the east before sunrise and is aligned along the zodiacal belt, hence its name. It is due to sunlight reflected by dust particles of 1–100 μm in size, concentrated in the plane of the ecliptic, mainly in its central region (approximately up to the asteroid...

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References and Further Reading

  • Cockell CS, Herbst T, Léger A, Absil O, Beichman C, Benz W, Brack A, Chazelas B et al (2009) Darwin an experimental astronomy mission to search for extrasolar planet. Exp Astron 23:435

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalas P, Graham JR, Chiang R et al (2008) Optical images of an Exosolar planet 25 light years from Earth. Science 322:1345

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  • Reach WT (1997) The structured zodiacal light: IRAS, COBE, and ISO observations, diffuse infrared radiation and the IRTS. ASP conference series no. 124, pp 33–40

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  • Smith BA, Terrile RJ (1984) A circumstellar disk around beta pictoris. Science 226:1421–1424

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  • Stark CC, Kuchner MJ, Traub WA, Monnier JD, Eugene S, Mark C, Chris K, Bertrand M et al (2009) 51 Ophiuchus: a possible beta pictoris analog measured with the Keck interferometer Nuller. Astrophys J 703(2):1188–1197

    Article  MATH  ADS  Google Scholar 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire Paris-Site de Meudon, LESIA, 5 Pl Jules Janssen, 92195, Meudon, France

    Daniel Rouan

Authors
  1. Daniel Rouan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Rouan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Rouan, D. (2014). Exozodiacal Light. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_557-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_557-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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