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SUMMARY:The Fast Track to Finding an Inhabited Exoplanet - Dave Charbonnea
 u (Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics\, USA)
DTSTART:20140506T153000Z
DTEND:20140506T163000Z
UID:TALK51967@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:David Titterington
DESCRIPTION:The investigation of planets orbiting other stars has moved fr
 om the study of gas giants to the hunt for smaller planets that are predom
 inantly rock and ice in composition.  When such planets are discovered in 
 edge-on orbits\, such that the planet and star undergo mutual eclipses\, w
 e are granted the opportunity to determine directly the planetary masses a
 nd sizes.  Most interestingly\, we can study starlight filtered through th
 e planetary atmosphere to deduce its chemical composition\, and perhaps ev
 en search for biosignatures.  I will summarise the most recent results fro
 m the NASA Kepler Mission and describe two surveys intended to find the cl
 osest habitable exoplanet.  I will conclude by assessing the prospects for
  searching for atmospheric biosignatures on such worlds with an ELT.\n
LOCATION:Sackler Lecture Theatre\, IoA (tea at 4.00 pm)
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