Brooke Kotten

bkotten@umich.edu

I am an NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Michigan. I search for transiting exosatellites in JWST lightcurves of substellar worlds with Mary Anne Limbach. As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, I investigated lithium enrichment in stars as evidence of planetary engulfment and contributed to solar flare detection algorithms. In addition to my research, I work as a planetarium operator at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History and organize Astronomy on Tap-Ann Arbor.

Research

Transiting Exosatellites with JWST

I search for satellites around free-floating planets (FFPs) — planets that drift in space without orbiting a star. Because FFPs lack a host star, which would make it difficult to monitor for exoplanet counterparts, they are significantly more accessible to transit searches. I am using the infrared capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to monitor spectrophotometric FFP light curves to search for exosatellites. A detection of the first satellite moon, in addition to realizing the prevalence of exosatellites, will enhance our understanding of the formation and evolution of these worlds and could enable us to explore if these environments are capable of supporting life.

Companion vs. host mass for the known exoplanet population (blue and black points) as well as the approximate sensitivity of several past, ongoing, or upcoming exosatellite (or moon) surveys of substellar, FFP, and exoplanet hosts — Companion vs. host mass for the known exoplanet population and solar system moons.
Overlays sensitivity of several past, ongoing, and upcoming exosatellite surveys.
Adapted from *Limbach et al. (2024)*, arXiv link.

A full list of publications I have been involved in can be found on NASA ADS.

Outreach

UMMNH Planetarium Operator

I am a planetarium operator at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. I enjoy giving live shows where I cover constellations, planets, and anything I decide is interesting. As we enter the peak of solar cycle 25, my shows have been centered on the aurora borealis. You can purchase tickets to our planetarium shows on the UMMNH website.

Astronomy on Tap - Ann Arbor

I led the effort to relaunch Ann Arbor's Astronomy on Tap event in September 2025. We host regular events the third Tuesday of the month at Grizzly Peak Brewing Co. See up to date information on Facebook and our website. Come join us!

Curriculum Vitae

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