Thermal Variations of Extremely Close-in Exoplanets

Modern exoplanet light curves allow for detailed parameter characterization and are now employed to estimate parameters such as reflectivity and temperature to provide information about planet composition and potential habitability. Currently, exoplanet heat maps are in active development, but a simple model of temperature distribution assumes that the exoplanet has only a dayside and nightside temperature, where each side of the exoplanet emits thermal radiation like a blackbody at constant temperature. Presented here is a new method of characterizing the thermal emissions of exoplanets that considers N temperature zones. The zones make up a series of rings axially symmetric about the substellar point and each will be treated as a blackbody of constant temperature. The hottest zone will be centered about the substellar point. Here I will outline the differences between the N-zone and the dayside/nightside models.