Joint Astrophysics Colloquium

CANCELLED

Joint Astrophysics Seminar

The Detection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planets

Greg Laughlin

UC Santa Cruz

During the past decade, over 170 extrasolar planets have been detected in orbit around solar-type stars in the local galactic neighborhood. In this talk, I will explain how the statistical interpretation of these discoveries can give us an advance look at the overall galactic census of planetary systems. I will also attempt to show how the observed systems allow us to discern between competing theories of planetary formation.

Background information is on the website: http://www.oklo.org/