|
|
Cr: University of Birmingham
Extrasolar planets are planets that orbit stars
other than the Sun and
constitute perhaps the most exciting and rapidly developing area of
astronomy today.
From their initial discovery in 1995, around 250 are known
ranging from planets larger than Jupiter down to the realm of
Super-Earths (planets a few times the mass of the Earth, and
presumably rocky bodies).
I will discuss the various ways of finding extrasolar planets, and th
current state of play of our understanding of them. I will also map
out the exciting developments that will occur in the new few
years. The most exciting opportunity, which may only be just over a
decade away, will be to take spectra of the atmospheres of extrasolar
planets using constellations of satellite borne telescopes. From these
spectra we anticipate that we will be able to infer the presence of
life on these planets, if it exists, and provided that, like the
Earth, life has had a substantial impact on the atmosphere. In the
distant future (maybe 50 years away), we may be able to image the
surface of these distant extrasolar planets.
****************************************************
Biographical Notes
Born in London in 1964. Went to Warren Comprehensive in East London -
a
school notable for having 3 major fires while I was there (it wasn't
me!). I did an undergraduate degree in Maths at University College
London, before moving next door and doing a Ph.D in Astrophysics in
the Department of Physics, also at UCL (with Sir Robert Wilson and
Allan
Willis).
After completing my Ph.D I had to decide what to do with my life, and
opted to go to NASA, and to quote Trillian from the Hitchhikers
Guide to the Galaxy:
"Well, with a degree in Maths and another in Astrophysics it was
either that or back to the dole line on Tuesday"
So, on completion of my Ph.D I headed off to work at NASA/ Goddard
Space Flight Center in Maryland USA (just outside of Washington DC),
with a small overdraft and large expectations. This was a particularly
exciting time, with the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope and the
COBE
mission while I was at NASA.
After that I moved back to the UK to the Institute of Astronomy, part
of the University of Cambridge, where I had the immense privilege
of working with some great scientists, such as Martin Rees and Andy
Fabian. There I developed my initial interest in planets, as the
original pulsar planets were discovered while I was there. Suffice it
to say that Cambridge and Washington DC are rather different places
to live.
After 3 years in the rarefied atmosphere of Cambridge, I moved to the
less rarefied (and rather more polluted) atmosphere of Birmingham,
to the original red-brick University, where I still am, with a nice
view from my office of the rather impressive, clock tower called
"Old
Joe"). In addition to lecturing and too much teaching
administration, I
work on extrasolar planets, massive stars and starburst galaxies.
Book
Online
To get tickets by post send cash cash/cheque/postal order/bank draft and
a SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED (55cent) ENVELOPE to: Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box
2888, Dublin 5.
Schrodinger Theatre, Physics Building, Trinity
College, Dublin 2.
Near the Westland Row or Lincoln Place entrances MAP
of Campus
Directions and maps: How to get to Trinity
College
Map of area
around Trinity College
Admission: € 5 (€ 3 members and concessions)
This lecture is also available to members nationwide
on high quality DVD, which you can order by credit card online HERE or by calling (01) 847 0777 (alternatively post a
cheque or postal order to: October DVD, Astronomy Ireland, PO. Box
2888, Dublin 5.) As a sample, a low-resolution version will be
available FREE on this website. Full quality DVDs of this and past
lectures are just €5 each (add €5 for P&P for any number of
DVDs).
|
