Exoplanets: Think outside our solar system

Imagine looking through the atmosphere of planets orbiting stars outside of our Solar System - it sounds like science fiction, but it's a reality we're doing today! Using the light of distant stars reaching our telescopes, we can study the atmospheres of extrasolar worlds. We'll dive into how we use spectroscopy to pull out the chemical fingerprints of these exoplanet atmospheres, allowing us to detect molecules like water and carbon dioxide. We'll explore how telescopes from the ground and from space, particularly the James Webb Space Telescope, have enhanced our understanding of planetary systems in the last three decades. Join us as we talk about cutting-edge exoplanet science, discuss the current limitations in our technology and consider future possibilities as we continue the exploration of worlds beyond our Solar System.

Planets around other stars - exoplanets - exhibit a level of diversity not seen in our own solar system. They range from gaseous Jupiter-sized planets with temperatures in excess of 2000 °C and rocky planets with oceans of magma to cooler Earth and Neptune-sized planets potentially hosting liquid oceans. We will explore the most exotic aspects of these planets, highlighting both observational discoveries as well as theoretical predictions.