Doug Miller, a staff scientist in the UA department of astronomy, and his colleagues may be getting closer to answering the question "Is there life out there?" as they purse extrasolar planet detection. Astronomers have indirectly detected more than 270 planets around stars other than the sun. However, they have not been able to actually take a picture of any of these planets because, on average, the parent star is more than a million times brighter than the plant. With the Adaptive Optics system and a technique called interferometry specialize telescopes, such as the Large Binocular Telescope, scientists should be able to take images of some of the nearby extrasolar planets. Once the light from just the planets is observed scientists will be able to determine what the planets are made of, and what gases are present in their atmospheres.
The Science Café is a casual forum for people to meet and discuss a particular science topic with UA scientists in the relaxed atmosphere of a local restaurant. Topics of discussion vary each month, but each is current, relevant and, at times, slightly edgy and humorous – or controversial.
Admission: Free
Audience: All, Small (1-50)
Enoteca Pizzeria and Wine Bar, 58 W. Congress St.
Sam Kane
Flandrau: The UA Science Center
520-626-3032
skane@email.arizona.edu
http://www.gotuasciencecenter.org