Starry Night on April 19

The Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) invites to the next Starry Night in Babelsberg on Thursday, April 19, 2018, starting at 7:15 pm with a public lecture of Engin Keles on "Exoplanets: The search for the second Earth". Please note that the lecture will be given in German.
Starry Night on April 19

Illustration of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in front of a lava planet orbiting its host star. Credit: NASA/GSFC

The Earth - a unique planet like no other in our solar system, with thriving flora and fauna. But can be quite different! If you look at exoplanets (ie those outside our solar system), you see bizarre things: planets of fiery magma, which resemble hell; Planets of ice and colder than the Arctic; Planets that consist only of water or pure iron. In the end, the question is: is our Earth that houses life truly unique, or are there other "habitable" planets out there? In this talk we will try to approach an answer.

 

- What exactly does "habitable" mean and which other types of planets exist?
- How do we find them?
- Why is the search of Earth-like planets easier for smaller stars than for larger ones?
- Where exactly must we look for it in our galaxy?
- Which factors influence the habitability of a planet?
- When do future space missions start to search for Earth-like planets?
With the help of these questions we go on a journey to the stars and embark on the "search for the second Earth".

After the talk, we offer a tour over the AIP campus and – if the sight is clear – an observation with one of our historical reflecting telescopes. 

We look forward to your visit!

Free entry, no previous registration necessary.

Location: AIP, An der Sternwarte 16, 14482 Potsdam