Alien World

Exploring Alien Worlds From Science Fiction to Science Fact

Wright, Dussault, & López-Morales

Our Journey Today • Introductions, initial ideas on alien worlds • Perspective of an “Exoplaneteer” • Authentic science learning with the DIY Planet Search online laboratory • Q and A

Wright, Dussault, & López-Morales

Erika Wright Education Specialist Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

Mary Dussault Science Education Program Manager Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

Mercedes López-Morales Astronomer Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI

No…not there

No…not there

There

Since 1995, astronomers have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets orbiting stars far beyond the Solar System

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Exploring Alien Worlds From Science Fiction to Science Fact

What questions, ideas, or interdisciplinary connections are bubbling up?

Mercedes López-Morales Astronomer & “Exoplaneteer” Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

The Search and Characterization of Exoplanets

Exoplanet research involves the search for alien worlds (and alien life)

• What Are Exoplanets?

• How Do We Find Them?

• The Transit Method • The Dopper Shift Method • How Do We Know What They Are Like?

• Spectroscopy: Analyzing light from exoplanet atmospheres • Searching For Biosignatures

What is an exoplanet?

Exo-planet = Planet outside the solar system. They orbit around stars other than the Sun

More than 5,000 found to date

How do we find exoplanets?

The Transit Method

How do we find exoplanets?

The Doppler Shift Method

How do we know what exoplanets are like?

Transit method ⇒ Size and Temperature

Gas

Gian

t

Ro ck y an Pl

Doppler method ⇒ Weight (Mass)

et

Spectroscopy: Analyzing Light from Exoplanet Atmospheres Starlight filters through the planet’s atmosphere during transit

Absorption line from the planet

Spectroscopy: Analyzing Light from Exoplanet Atmospheres

What lies ahead? Searching for Biosignatures

Image Credit: Origins Space Telescope

Pause for Questions?

Please use the Q and A Portal to ask Dr. Lopez-Morales any questions

Exploring Alien Worlds In Your Classroom

www.microobservatory.org

microobservatory.org

SAO

Animation Credit: NASA/JPL

Image Credit: SAO/C. Grainger

NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas Earth’s Place in the Universe (ESS1.A & B)

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Asking questions Developing & using models Planning & carrying out Electromagnetic Radiation investigations (PS4.B) Analyzing & interpreting data Using mathematics & Information Technologies and computational thinking Instrumentation Constructing (PS4.C) explanations/designing solutions Obtaining, evaluating & communicating information

Cross-cutting Concepts Size, scale, & proportion Systems & system models

Image Credit: Courtesy David Aguilar

• Use the telescope to take multiple images of your alien solar system

• Measure the starʼs brightness in each image

• Display and interpret your results • Deduce planetʼs size and orbit

Image Credit: Courtesy David Aguilar

Final Project – Jackie Barge Chicago Public Schools Scientific Poster: Create a poster with the following information:

1. Introduction 2. Methodology 3. Screenshot of your data- your brightness curve

4. Written description (interpretation) of your data

5. Screenshot of a visualization of your

planet, both its orbit and of the planet

6. Create a detailed written description of

your exoplanet. Identify which aspects are based on your data analysis and which are based on your assumptions.

https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exoplanet-watch/

We invite you to JOIN the DIY Planet Search Community!

Sign up for more info: bit.ly/signupDIY

Sign up for more info: bit.ly/signupDIY

Questions?

DIY Planet Search is supported by NASA’s Universe of Learning under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC65A to the Space Telescope Science Institute, working in partnership with Caltech/IPAC, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.