Directions to the Nearest Alien Earth-like Planet
Date: Thu. November 13th, 2014, 8:00 pm-10:00 pmLocation: Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Drive, Cleveland, OH 44106
Directions to the Nearest Alien Earth-like Planet
Sarah Ballard, University of Washington
Astronomers used to hedge at the question of whether the Sun and its system of planets are unusual in the cosmos. The study of exoplanets – planets around other stars – is relatively new. State-of- the-art instruments just brush up against the sensitivity to find planets similar to our very own planet Earth. I will summarize findings from the past couple years that contextualize Earth as one potentially habitable, rocky planet among many. However, the environments of these worlds are by-and-large astoundingly different from the conditions that have nourished life here at home.
These talks are held in partnership with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History at 8:00pm on Thursday nights. Admission is free to the general public; parking is available in the museum lot for a $6 charge.