David Charbonneau

About

David Charbonneau is the Fred Kavli Professor of Astrophysics and the Chair of the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University. His research interests focus on the detection and characterization of extrasolar planets, with the overarching goal of studying inhabited worlds. In pursuit of this goal, he also engages in the development of novel ground-based and space-based instrumentation, as well as studies of stellar astrophysics. His work aims to advance understanding of planetary systems beyond our own and to contribute to the broader field of astrophysics through innovative observational techniques and instrumentation.

Research topics

• Astronomy
• Physics
• Computer Science
• Computer Security
• Artificial Intelligence
• Astrophysics
• Astrobiology
• Mathematics

Selected publications

• The TESS Objects of Interest Catalog from the TESS Prime Mission

  The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · 2021 · 300 citations

  We present 2241 exoplanet candidates identified with data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) during its 2 yr Prime Mission. We list these candidates in the TESS Objects of Interest (TOI) Catalog, which includes both new planet candidates found by TESS and previously known planets recovered by TESS observations. We describe the process used to identify TOIs, investigate the characteristics of the new planet candidates, and discuss some notable TESS planet discoveries. The TOI c…

  DOI

• Vetting of 384 TESS Objects of Interest with TRICERATOPS and Statistical Validation of 12 Planet Candidates

  The Astronomical Journal · 2020 · 153 citations

  Abstract We present TRICERATOPS , a new Bayesian tool that can be used to vet and validate TESS Objects of Interest (TOIs). We test the tool on 68 TOIs that have been previously confirmed as planets or rejected as astrophysical false positives. By looking in the false-positive probability (FPP)−nearby false-positive probability (NFPP) plane, we define criteria that TOIs must meet to be classified as validated planets (FPP < 0.015 and NFPP < 10 −3 ), likely planets (FPP < 0.5 and NFPP &l…

  DOI

• A Pair of TESS Planets Spanning the Radius Valley around the Nearby Mid-M Dwarf LTT 3780

  The Astronomical Journal · 2020 · 96 citations

  Abstract We present the confirmation of two new planets transiting the nearby mid-M dwarf LTT 3780 (TIC 36724087, TOI-732, V = 13.07, K s = 8.204, R s = 0.374 R ⊙ , M s = 0.401 M ⊙ , d = 22 pc). The two planet candidates are identified in a single Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite sector and validated with reconnaissance spectroscopy, ground-based photometric follow-up, and high-resolution imaging. With measured orbital periods of P b = 0.77, P c = 12.25 days and sizes r p , b = 1.33 ± 0.07,…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• TOI-836: A super-Earth and mini-Neptune transiting a nearby K-dwarf

  Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · 2023 · 27 citations

  ABSTRACT We present the discovery of two exoplanets transiting TOI-836 (TIC 440887364) using data from TESS Sector 11 and Sector 38. TOI-836 is a bright (T = 8.5 mag), high proper motion (∼200 mas yr−1), low metallicity ([Fe/H]≈−0.28) K-dwarf with a mass of 0.68 ± 0.05 M⊙ and a radius of 0.67 ± 0.01 R⊙. We obtain photometric follow-up observations with a variety of facilities, and we use these data sets to determine that the inner planet, TOI-836 b, is a 1.70 ± 0.07 R⊕ super-Earth in a 3.82-d or…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Receding Cosmic Shoreline of Mid-to-late M Dwarfs: Measurements of Active Lifetimes Worsen Challenges for Atmosphere Retention by Rocky Exoplanets

  The Astrophysical Journal Letters · 2025-06-03 · 16 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Detecting and characterizing the atmospheres of terrestrial exoplanets is a key goal of exoplanetary astronomy, one that may now be within reach given the upcoming campaign to conduct a large-scale survey of rocky M-dwarf worlds with the James Webb Space Telescope. It is imperative that we understand where known planets sit relative to the cosmic shoreline—the boundary between planets that have retained atmospheres and those that have not. Previous works modeled the historic X-ray and u…

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• 2009 Waterman Award

  NSF · $500k · 2010–2012

• The MEarth Project: A Transit Search for Rocky Planets in the Habitable Zones of Low-mass Stars

  NSF · $557k · 2008–2011

• The MEarth Project: An All Sky Survey of the Closest Low-mass Stars to Uncover the Very Best Terrestrial Exoplanets for Further Study

  NSF · $500k · 2016–2019

Frequent coauthors

• David W. Latham

  269 shared

• Sara Seager

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  234 shared

• Timothy M. Brown

  Brigham Young University

  164 shared

• Jonathan Irwin

  163 shared

• Lars A. Buchhave

  155 shared

• Jon M. Jenkins

  153 shared

• S. Udry

  139 shared

• David R. Ciardi

  NASA Exoplanet Science Institute

  135 shared

Labs

• Charbonneau Astronomy GroupPI

  Exoplanets and Stellar Physics at Harvard University

Education

• Ph.D., Astronomy

  Harvard University

  1996

• B.A., Physics

  Princeton University

  1991

Similar researchers at Harvard University

• Ramesh Narayanh-141
• Christopher Stubbsh-126
• Robert P. Kirshnerh-112