Rocky Worlds DDT Updates: New Targets, Upcoming Observations, and More

The Rocky worlds DDT Core Implementation Team (CIT) at STScI, along with the external Science Advisory Council (SAC), have been hard at work to make progress on this exciting program, which will look for evidence of atmospheres on rocky exoplanets orbiting M-dwarfs using 15 um MIRI photometry, and study the UV outputs of the host stars with HST to understand the environments of these worlds.

New Targets Selected and Ongoing Work on Additional Targets

After careful deliberation and study by the SAC and CIT, we are pleased to announce LHS 1140 b and LTT 1445 A b as the next two targets to join the Rocky Worlds DDT sample. This decision has been endorsed by the SAC. The CIT is currently working to determine the number of secondary eclipse observations and how much UV coverage of the host stars are needed to reach the science goals of the program for each target.

Following a SAC recommendation, the CIT is also undertaking the study of two additional targets: Gliese 12 b and TOI-198 b. Based on the outcomes of the CIT analysis, the SAC will make adequate recommendations on which target, if either, to add to the program.

Request for community contributions: if you have any data on the Gliese 12 or TOI-198 systems and you are willing to share with the CIT, please reach out to them using this email. Data will be extremely helpful to determine whether these systems should be added to the Rocky Worlds DDT program. We will work with you to ensure that any proprietary data is handled properly.

Additional Rocky Worlds DDT targets will be announced at least 6 weeks prior to the JWST Cycle 5 Call for Proposals deadline (October 15, 2025).

First Observations Scheduled

Thanks to the dedicated work by the Rocky Worlds CIT JWST Scheduling Team and the Rocky Worlds CIT HST Scheduling Team, we are thrilled to announce that the first secondary eclipse time series observations of GJ 3929 b have been scheduled with JWST/MIRI, and the first observations of the host star GJ 3929 in the UV have been scheduled with HST/STIS. Further updates, as well as the latest schedules on these observations, will be posted on our new Rocky Worlds website.

Additional Updates

The CIT and the SAC have also worked on refining the observing strategy for the Rocky Worlds DDT and performed studies on possible complementary observations. Updates about these can be found in the News and Announcements section of the Rocky Worlds website.

Astrobiology, Astronomy,