Observations of Exocomets
Pictoris, these small, icy bodies have shown the potential to become key probes for understanding planetary formation and migration. This review presents an overview of current observational techniques used to detect exocomets, focusing on individual systems and large-scale searches. We discuss photometric methods that identify exocomet transits through asymmetric light curves and spectroscopic techniques revealing cometary gases via time-variable absorption lines. Despite progress, significant open questions remain regarding the physical properties, occurrence rates, and similarities between exocomets and their Solar System counterparts. This review explores future opportunities in observational exocomet research, highlighting advancements required to further our understanding of these active small bodies and their role in the context of planetary system evolution.
Authors
- Daniela Iglesias
- Azib Norazman
- Cristina Madurga Favieres (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5714-0405)
- Raphaël Bendahan-West (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0303-2145)
- Grant Kennedy
- Nathan X. Roth
- Judith Korth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0076-6239)
- Siyi Xu
- Olena Shubina
Institutions
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- University of Leeds (GB)
- American University (US)
- Lund University (SE)
- Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- Gemini North Observatory (US)
- Gemini South Observatory (CL)
- Main Astronomical Observatory (UA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Space Science Reviews
- Published
- 2026-04-29
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-026-01300-y
- Primary Topic
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Royal Society
- University of Warwick
- Lunds Universitet
- Vetenskapsrådet
- Science and Technology Facilities Council