Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EXOHOST (Building Excellence in Spectral Characterisation of Exoplanet Hosts and Other Stars)
Période du rapport: 2023-01-01 au 2025-12-31
More than 6,000 planets have been discovered around other stars, revealing an astonishing diversity of planetary systems. Understanding how these planets form and evolve is one of the central challenges of modern science. Major European and international facilities are now entering a new era of detailed exoplanet characterisation.
Planets cannot be properly understood without precise knowledge of their host stars. The physical and chemical properties of stars directly influence how planets form, what they are made of, and how their atmospheres evolve. Accurate characterisation of stars hosting planets or planet-forming disks is therefore essential for interpreting exoplanet observations and for advancing knowledge of the star–disk–planet connection.
EXOHOST is a Horizon Europe Twinning project designed to develop excellence in exoplanet and host star research at Tartu Observatory (University of Tartu, Estonia). Through close collaboration with leading European institutions — University College London, Uppsala University, and the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences — the project modernised research methods, strengthened scientific capacity, and established sustainable international partnerships.
By reinforcing scientific excellence and institutional capacity in a Widening country, EXOHOST contributes to reducing disparities within the European Research Area and supports Europe’s leadership in space science.
Planets cannot be properly understood without precise knowledge of their host stars. The physical and chemical properties of stars directly influence how planets form, what they are made of, and how their atmospheres evolve. Accurate characterisation of stars hosting planets or planet-forming disks is therefore essential for interpreting exoplanet observations and for advancing knowledge of the star–disk–planet connection.
EXOHOST is a Horizon Europe Twinning project designed to develop excellence in exoplanet and host star research at Tartu Observatory (University of Tartu, Estonia). Through close collaboration with leading European institutions — University College London, Uppsala University, and the Space Research Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences — the project modernised research methods, strengthened scientific capacity, and established sustainable international partnerships.
By reinforcing scientific excellence and institutional capacity in a Widening country, EXOHOST contributes to reducing disparities within the European Research Area and supports Europe’s leadership in space science.
EXOHOST strengthened research capacity through structured knowledge transfer, expert visits, staff exchanges, advanced training, and joint pilot research activities. Researchers at Tartu Observatory received hands-on training in modern spectroscopic analysis, advanced statistical methods, and exoplanet science.
The project delivered multiple international workshops and a large-scale Summer School on planet formation and planetary populations, providing advanced training in stellar spectroscopy, observing techniques, and exoplanet research. More than 30 scientific visits between partner institutions enabled effective knowledge transfer and laid the foundation for long-term collaboration.
A key achievement was the introduction of state-of-the-art data analysis tools into everyday research practice. New open-source software solutions were implemented to improve the accuracy and reliability of stellar measurements. These tools are now embedded in the Observatory’s research workflow and are openly available to the wider scientific community.
Pilot research projects demonstrated how the newly acquired expertise can be applied in practice. Studies examined how material from planet-forming disks can alter stellar surface composition, how life-relevant chemical elements are distributed in young planetary systems, and how stellar properties influence planet formation.
The consortium organised high-profile international events, including the ESA Ariel Mission Consortium meeting in Tartu and the EXOHOST Final Conference “Exploring Star–Planet–Disk Connections,” significantly increasing the international visibility of Estonian space research.
Training in research management and proposal preparation led to concrete funding success: the University of Tartu secured new Horizon Europe and ESA-related projects and increased its participation in international observing proposals.
The project delivered multiple international workshops and a large-scale Summer School on planet formation and planetary populations, providing advanced training in stellar spectroscopy, observing techniques, and exoplanet research. More than 30 scientific visits between partner institutions enabled effective knowledge transfer and laid the foundation for long-term collaboration.
A key achievement was the introduction of state-of-the-art data analysis tools into everyday research practice. New open-source software solutions were implemented to improve the accuracy and reliability of stellar measurements. These tools are now embedded in the Observatory’s research workflow and are openly available to the wider scientific community.
Pilot research projects demonstrated how the newly acquired expertise can be applied in practice. Studies examined how material from planet-forming disks can alter stellar surface composition, how life-relevant chemical elements are distributed in young planetary systems, and how stellar properties influence planet formation.
The consortium organised high-profile international events, including the ESA Ariel Mission Consortium meeting in Tartu and the EXOHOST Final Conference “Exploring Star–Planet–Disk Connections,” significantly increasing the international visibility of Estonian space research.
Training in research management and proposal preparation led to concrete funding success: the University of Tartu secured new Horizon Europe and ESA-related projects and increased its participation in international observing proposals.
EXOHOST strengthened Europe’s capacity in high-precision stellar characterisation — a critical but often underdeveloped component of exoplanet research. By linking improved stellar analysis with models of planet formation and disk evolution, the project advanced understanding of the star–disk–planet connection, a key frontier in astronomy.
The introduction of advanced statistical techniques and open, reusable software enhances transparency, reproducibility, and data quality in astronomical research. These methodological advances benefit not only the project partners but also the broader European scientific community.
Beyond individual scientific outputs, EXOHOST delivered lasting structural impact at Tartu Observatory: modernised research practices, strengthened international networks, improved diversity indicators, and enhanced institutional capacity to attract talent and competitive funding. The project has positioned Tartu Observatory as a competitive regional centre in exoplanet research and as an active contributor to European space mission science.
The introduction of advanced statistical techniques and open, reusable software enhances transparency, reproducibility, and data quality in astronomical research. These methodological advances benefit not only the project partners but also the broader European scientific community.
Beyond individual scientific outputs, EXOHOST delivered lasting structural impact at Tartu Observatory: modernised research practices, strengthened international networks, improved diversity indicators, and enhanced institutional capacity to attract talent and competitive funding. The project has positioned Tartu Observatory as a competitive regional centre in exoplanet research and as an active contributor to European space mission science.