Presenter(s):
Lee Feinberg, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Jessica Noviello, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Andrew Rivkin, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Hartwick, Victoria L., Southwest Research Institute Boulder
Richard Cartwright, SETI Institute

Primary Convener:
Megan Ansdell, NASA Headquarters

This Town Hall engages the planetary science community on NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a future astrophysics flagship space telescope that would perform transformational science at scales ranging from our solar system to the distant universe. HWO is planned to obtain direct imaging and spectroscopy of hundreds of exoplanets, including dozens of potentially Earth-like worlds, to search for atmospheric biosignatures and constrain the frequency of global biospheres. HWO could also remotely observe bodies in our own solar system—obtaining spatially resolved images and spectra, at ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths, of icy moons and ocean worlds from Ceres in the Main Belt to Triton at Neptune. With its ability to conduct long-term monitoring as well as single-visit measurements at flexible cadence, HWO could place in situ observations from planetary missions like Europa Clipper and Dragonfly into the broader context of the target’s environment and evolution. This Town Hall will deliver HWO mission status updates, share opportunities for planetary science, and answer community questions. The final portion will feature an “Open House” where HWO leadership and science team members will be available to session attendees for small-group discussions to engage on focused topic areas as well as receive community feedback.

Cross-Listed:
P - Planetary Sciences
B - Biogeosciences