# Atmospheres from very low-mass stars to extrasolar planets

**Authors:** France Allard, Derek Homeier  
**arXiv:** [1206.1021](https://arxiv.org/abs/1206.1021)  
**Date:** 2012-06-05  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/paper/1206.1021v1/

## Key points

- Search for extrasolar planets is a hot topic in astronomy
- Several instruments aiming to image these planets will see first light within the next few years
- Low mass planets are being searched around red dwarfs which offer more favorable conditions for detection than solar-type stars
- Advancements in modeling the stellar to substellar transition have allowed researchers to better understand the properties of this transition
- Revised solar oxygen abundances and cloud models have enabled scientists to reproduce the photometric and spectroscopic properties of this transition with greater accuracy than ever before
- There remain issues in the important M-L transition characteristic of the effective temperature range of characterizable exoplanets
- Researchers remain optimistic about potential discoveries that may be made in the coming years as technology continues to improve and our understanding of these celestial bodies deepens.

## Summary

The search for extrasolar planets has been a hot topic in astronomy for many years and within the next few years several instruments aiming to image these planets will see first light. Low mass planets are being searched around red dwarfs which offer more favorable conditions for detection than solar-type stars. Recent advancements in modeling the stellar to substellar transition have allowed researchers to better understand the properties of this transition and revised solar oxygen abundances and cloud models have enabled scientists to reproduce the photometric and spectroscopic properties of this transition with greater accuracy than ever before. Despite these challenges, there remain issues in the important M-L transition characteristic of the effective temperature range of characterizable exoplanets. Nevertheless, researchers remain optimistic about potential discoveries that may be made in the coming years as technology continues to improve and our understanding of these celestial bodies deepens.