Searching for Alien Earths and Moons

Dr. Zdzislaw Musielak

University of Texas at Arlington

Abstract: Astronomical observations show that most late-type stars have planetary companions, which is one of the most exciting and profound astronomical discovery of all time. With almost 2000 exoplanets already discovered, mainly by the NASA Kepler mission, searches still continue to find Earth-type planets or Earth-size moons in the stellar habitable zones (HZs). I will discuss the most recent results of such searches, including our attempts to discover a first exomoon by using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India, and present the results of our studies of orbital stability of exoplanets and exomoons in the HZs. Long-term stability of these objects in the HZs is a necessary condition for the evolution of any form of life, including intelligent life.

Host: Ohad Shemmer

Refreshments at 3:15 P.M.