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AsteriaStar
Characterization method

Atmospheric Retrieval

The statistical machinery that turns a spectrum into numbers: models of an atmosphere are compared against the data, usually with Bayesian inference, to find the mix of gases, temperatures, and clouds that best explains it — along with honest uncertainties. Retrieval is how a wiggly spectrum becomes a measured abundance.

Highlights

  • Bayesian inference from spectrum to composition, with error bars

Across exoplanet science

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration

    Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.

    Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.