Join Subaru Telescope-NAOJ astronomers Dr. Olivier Guyon and Dr. Josh Walawender for their talk entitled “Observing Exoplanets with Small and Large Telescopes” at 7 p.m. Friday at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.
Join Subaru Telescope-NAOJ astronomers Dr. Olivier Guyon and Dr. Josh Walawender for their talk entitled “Observing Exoplanets with Small and Large Telescopes” at 7 p.m. Friday at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center.
This event is the next Maunakea Skies Talk at the center, and will look at the advancing field of exoplanets (planets around other stars) research and how anyone looking up at the stars can contribute to the growing number of exoplanets in the database.
During the last 20 years, astronomers have discovered thousands of exoplanets. Thanks to recent technological advances, the pace of discovery is accelerating, and Earth-sized planets are now detectable around other stars.
The prospects for life outside the solar system look excellent, with 10 to 40 percent of stars hosting potentially habitable Earth-sized planets with a surface temperature able to sustain liquid water. The search for exoplanets is done with wide range of techniques, each making rapid progress. Very small telescopes can be used to find new planets by monitoring a large number of stars to search for planet transits.
Guyon and Walawender will present the Panoptic Astronomical Networked OPtical observatory for Transiting Exoplanets Survey project (PANOPTES), which is establishing a network of robotic wide field imaging units built and operated by citizen scientists. Each unit uses inexpensive digital cameras to find large planets. The full network can find smaller planets by combining many measurements. Once found, exoplanets can be observed with large professional telescopes for detailed study.
The monthly Maunakea Skies planetarium presentations are hosted on the third Friday of each month. Cost is $8 for individual, dual, kupuna and family members, $6 for patron members and free for silver, gold and corporate members. The nonmember rate is $10. Pre-purchase tickets at the ‘Imiloa front desk or by phone at 969-9703.
For more information, go to www.imiloahawaii.org or call (808) 969-9703.