Exoplanets: other Solar-systems, and the Search for Earth-like Planets

Over 7000 extra-Solar planets have already been located, in ca. 5000 planetary systems, thanks to space science missions designed and launched to detect and characterise them.  The ultimate prize would be the discovery of another life-bearing Earth-like planet elsewhere in our Universe, but the search will be extremely challenging. In this fascinating talk, Robin Clegg (Swindon u3a) will describe what astronomers have learnt so far about exoplanets, and in particular, how the James Webb Space Telescope is making it possible, for the first time, to analyse their atmospheres, a key pointer to the possible presence of life down below.

To view the recording, click here… ‘Exoplanets’

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