Emerging Pictures of Distant Worlds with Stanford Professor Bruce Macintosh
Event Details
06:30PM - 08:00PM
Map address
In less than two decades, more than two thousand planets have been discovered orbiting other stars. Professor Macintosh will discuss these discoveries and the vast diversity of systems they have revealed, with a particular focus on imaging – using advanced telescopes and instruments to see the light from the planet directly, allowing us to measure their composition and nature. He will also look toward the future where space-based telescopes with similar technology or giant light-blocking star shades may someday measure the atmosphere of an Earth twin.
Bruce Macintosh is a professor of physics at Stanford’s Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology. As principal investigator of the Gemini Planet Imager, he uses an advanced adaptive optics planet-finder for the Gemini South telescope to image extrasolar planets orbiting nearby stars. Professor Macintosh co-led the team that made the first-ever images of an extrasolar planetary system, discovering four giant planets orbiting the young star HR8799. Additionally, he employs adaptive optics technology to control light and explores other approaches to studying extrasolar planets.