Exoplanet Transit Observed at Fresno State Observatory

Among the most important discoveries in the history of astronomy are planets that orbit stars other than the Sun, also called extrasolar planets or exoplanets.

Students at Fresno State can now learn how the campus observatory is discovering more about exoplanets. The Department of Physics at Fresno State is holding a talk on exoplanet exploration this Friday, Sept. 30 at 3 p.m. in McLane Hall, Room 162

The first known exoplanet was discovered only in 1991, and over 150 exoplanets are now known. Between 1% and 10% of exoplanets are expected to have orbits in which the exoplanets pass between their parent stars and Earth.

The resulting dimming of a parent star, or transit, reveals an exoplanet's radius. In combination with the spectra used to discover the exoplanet, transits also reveal an exoplanet's mass and density.

Two exoplanets are now known to have transits. Transits of both have now been observed at Fresno State's Campus Observatory. Searches for transits of other exoplanets have also
been carried out at the Campus Observatory. Hundreds more transiting exoplanets are expected to be discovered in the next decade.

This burgeoning field of astronomical exploration lends itself extremely well to student involvement, particularly since these observations can be done with equipment the Campus Observatory has now, and take only a few nights each. This talk will review what is now known about exoplanets, in the context of the program of observing exoplanet transits at Fresno State's Campus Observatory. It will also discuss how students can participate.

For more information, please contact the Department of Physics at 278.2371.