Weekly Space Hangout - Sept 18, 2015: Planet Hunter Prof. Sara Seager

TL;DR

This week's space hangout discusses exoplanets, Jeff Bezos' rocket company, new images of Pluto, the upcoming eclipse, and International Observe the Moon Night.

Transcript

hey everyone my name is Fraser Kane I'm the publisher of universe today and this is your weekly space hangout for Friday September 18 2015 and we've got another awesome special show for you guys today uh so I'm gonna go through our regulars first and then we'll get on to who our special guest is we're also going to be talking about exoplanets we're... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪐 Exoplanet research is relying on transit detection methods, especially transiting planets, due to their ability to find smaller planets.
• 💁 The starshade is a promising technique for directly imaging exoplanets, but challenges with precise formation flying and configuration must be overcome.
• 💦 Water worlds and mini-Neptunes are intriguing and exotic types of theoretical planets that astronomers hope to discover.
• 👶 New images of Pluto reveal detailed surface structures and the presence of a global ocean beneath its icy crust.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do scientists study the atmospheres of exoplanets?

Scientists use models, physics, chemistry, and computer codes to understand exoplanet atmospheres. Data from telescopes like Hubble and future missions like Tess and the James Webb Space Telescope help analyze the atmospheres.

Q: What is the significance of studying exoplanet atmospheres?

The atmosphere of a planet controls everything happening at its surface. Studying exoplanet atmospheres helps scientists understand the conditions for habitability or signs of life.

Q: Can the starshade be used with other telescopes besides James Webb?

The starshade is a separate spacecraft that works in tandem with a telescope like James Webb. It may not work with other telescopes due to differences in configuration and communication.

Q: What are some surprising planetary discoveries so far?

The discovery of sub-Neptunes, planets 2 to 3 times the size of Earth, has been a surprising finding. These planets are more common than expected and challenge our understanding of planetary systems.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The space hangout discusses exoplanets, with a focus on the research being done by Professor Sarah Seeger from MIT.

• They also discuss Jeff Bezos' rocket company, Blue Origin, and its plans for space exploration.

• New images of Pluto are revealed, showing detailed structures on its surface and its thick atmosphere.

• The upcoming eclipse and International Observe the Moon Night are also highlighted.