Abstract

Hunting for exoplanets – planets around stars other than the Sun – is a booming astronomical industry. Results from facilities all over the world, particularly from NASA ’s Kepler satellite, have shown that planets are common, and given new insight into the formation of our own Solar System. In this talk, Zooniverse principal investigator Chris Lintott (Oxford, BBC Sky at Night, ex-CUAS chair) will talk about what we know and don’t know, explain how you might find a planet of your own using only a laptop, and look forward to NASA ’s new TESS planet hunting mission. There will be at least one photo of penguins, and some speculation about alien megastructures.

Tickets are £2 or free for members. Annual membership (£7) and life membership (£12) can also be purchased at the event – please bring cash. The talk will be followed by refreshments outside the lecture theatre.

The talk will be at the usual location of Wolfson lecture theatre in the Department of Chemistry. The entrance is the opposite side of the building to Bristol-Myers-Squibb Lecture theatre and is opposite the car park- shown by the red arrow on the map. https://map.cam.ac.uk/Department+of+Chemistry#52.197964,0.125242,18