The Millennium Nucleus on Young Exoplanets and their Moons (YEMS) is an astronomy-informatics multidisciplinary effort funded by Iniciativa Científica Milenio and hosted by four universities in Chile. YEMS scientific objectives involve detecting and characterizing young exoplanets and exomoons to answer the long-standing question of their formation.

Can we witness the formation of an exoplanet?

Until three decades ago, scientists were skeptical that we would ever be able to find planets outside the solar system (exoplanets). Today, advances in technology and techniques have allowed the discovery of thousands of exoplanets and arrived at the astonishing statistics that most stars in our Galaxy are surrounded by planets. Understanding what makes a planet, when and where, which elements are abundant and which conditions prevail, means understanding its formation history.

Can we look for life on exoplanet moons?

The formation of planets and moons are intimately related, which means that moons can help us understand the origin of a planet. Moreover, most of the candidate places to look for life in our Solar System are in the giant planet's moons. Jupiter, for example, is not in the habitable zone but the moons of Jupiter, like Europa, are prime targets to study life.

About us

Information about our multidisciplinary collaboration, our mission, and our philosophy as a science group.

YEMS Internal Workshop

December 5-7, 2022. Concepción, Chile.

We are hiring. Apply!

YEMS is currently looking for postdocs and students.

Publications

List of publications led by or involving YEMS members.

Research

YEMS scientific objectives involve detecting and characterizing young exoplanets and exomoons to answer the long-standing question of their formation and pave the way to explore alternative habitable places.

Publications

YEMS researchers have led several works at the forefront of research.

Interdisciplinary activities beyond scientific research

YEMS is involved in several projects on outreach, education, multicultural astronomy, and art.

Science team

The YEMS Nucleus is born to provide a stage in which young researchers and students can fully develop their potential while producing great science.

Acknowledgements

YEMS is a multi-institutional center involving Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Universidad Diego Portales, Universidad de Chile, and Universidad de Concepción. YEMS is funded by ANID—Millennium Science Initiative Program Center Code NCN2021_080.

Image and HTML credits: Artist's impression of exomoon Kepler-1625b by ESA/Hubble. ALMA image of protoplanetary disk HD169142 by N. Lira - ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); S. Perez - USACH. Image of Europa by NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute. We are thankful to html5up for the "Story" template.