Exploring the Direct Detectability of Giant Exoplanets in Archival JWST Mid-Infrared Observations

The James Webb Space Telescope provides high-resolution image data for a large catalog of star systems. The ability to resolve faint objects has been studied for telescopes like Hubble. However, it has not been fully explored for the extensive Time-Series Observations (TSO) obtained during transiting planet studies with Webb’s instruments. The goal of this project is to analyze JWST MIRI image data to determine the faintest object magnitudes detectable by the instrument in the F1500W (15-18μm) wavelength band, where thermally emissive planet spectra tend to peak. Using models that estimate the luminosities of planets of various masses throughout their lifetimes, we are able to place constraints on star systems in which we may be able to detect such planets in order to make more informed observations.