Are we alone in the universe?
A Harvard astrophysicist will explore the question during a free, public lecture on the mysterious planets that orbit stars outside our galaxy on Thursday, March 13.
Dr. David Charbonneau is the Fred Kavli Professor of Astrophysics at Harvard University.
Dr. David Charbonneau will present “The Terrestrial Worlds of Other Stars,” continuing the Excellence in Astronomy series at The University of Toledo, at 7:15 p.m. in Wolfe Hall Room 1205.
Visitor parking is free in Areas 12 and 12S from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Charbonneau is the Fred Kavli Professor of Astrophysics at Harvard University, where he develops novel methods and instruments to detect and study exoplanets, which are planets that orbit stars other than our sun. He studies how stars affect the atmospheres of the planets that orbit them, with a particular interest in the rocky worlds that are similar in temperature and composition to Earth.
In recognition of his ground-breaking work in this field, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters presented him its prestigious Kavli Prize in Astrophysics in 2024.
“Dr. Charbonneau pioneered the study of planets around other stars,” said Dr. Tom Megeath, a Distinguished University Professor of astronomy at UToledo. “In 2004, we worked together to make the first detection of the infrared glow of a hot planet orbiting a star 500 lightyears away. It’s exciting now to host him on campus to hear about his latest search for planets like Earth, where there may be extraterrestrial life.”
In “Terrestrial Worlds of Other Stars,” Charbonneau will discuss how the James Webb Space Telescope is offering astronomers valuable insights into exoplanet conditions and predict that rapidly advancing technology will soon be able to definitively answer the grand question of whether we are alone in the universe.
The Excellence in Astronomy series focuses on astronomers who through their vision, persistence and teamwork have made extraordinary leaps in our understanding of the universe. It’s presented by UToledo’s Ritter Astrophysical Research Center and Department of Physics and Astronomy.
