Planets Beyond the Solar System
and the Next Generation of Space Missions
Dear Colleague:
Below is a preliminary schedule for the meeting "Planets Beyond the Solar
System and the Next Generation of Space Missions," to be held at STScI
in Baltimore on October 16, 17, and 18, 1996. To register, please go
to the Institute home page (http://www.stsci.edu), then go down to
"STScI" and "Meetings and Workshops." A
web-based registration form
can be found within information for this meeting. Hotel rooms may
also be reserved by that means.
Planets Beyond the Solar System and the Next Generation of Space Missions
A workshop to bring together scientists searching for extrasolar planets
with those planning a new generation of space instrumentation. The
program will include:
- New programs for the detection and study of planets
(interferometry, photometry, microlensing)
- Recent progress in the search for extrasolar planets
(radial velocity and astrometric programs, direct imaging)
- The astrophysical context of planet detection
(proto-planetary disks, low-mass companions to stars,
models of planet formation, astrophysical limits to the
techniques)
- Spinoffs and benefits of planet detection programs and
contributions of these programs to understanding
planet formation and evolution
(astrophysics using small-field interferometry, NGST)
Current status (28 August 96):
Schedule:
The schedule is similar to that for the STScI May workshops, with talks
of 20 to 30 minutes followed by ~15 minutes time for discussion. The
oral presentations are confined to invited talks, but we welcome and
encourage contributions in the form of poster papers (see the
registration form). We will provide an opportunity for those with
posters to present an abbreviated summary in oral form at the close of
the afternoon sessions.
- October 16, Wed., morning, 8:45--12:30:
Introduction; Companions to Low-Mass Stars
(R. Williams, STScI): Welcome
H. Thronson, NASA-HQ: The roadmap study and the NASA Origins Program
T. Henry, STScI: Low-mass companions to nearby stars
A. Burrows, UofA: Models of planets following recent detections
D. Latham, CfA: Radial velocity searches
- Wed. afternoon, 2:45-6:15:
The astrophysical context:
(M. Mayor): Achieving photon-noise-limited velocity measurements
G. Gatewood, U. Pitt.: Astrometric searches on the ground and in space
M. McCaughrean, MPI Heidelberg: Proto-stars and their environments
T. Brown, HAO: Photometric methods and limitations
poster mini-session
Reception at STScI
- Thur. morning, 9:00-12:30:
M. Simon, Stony Brook: Planet formation in the binary environment
K. Sahu, STScI: Detecting planets with microlensing
J-M. Mariotti, Meudon: European efforts
- Thur. afternoon, 2:00-6:00:
Mission and program concepts:
W. Borucki, NASA-ARC: The Kepler Mission and the photometric method
D. Sandler, Thermotrex: Large-aperture direct imaging
M. Shao, JPL: SIM, the Space Interferometry Mission
M. Colavita, JPL: Ground-based optical interferometry
R. Angel, UofA: Infrared interferometry
poster mini-session
Conference dinner
- Fri. morning, 9:00-12:30:
The current and next generations of space missions:
D. McCarthy, UofA: NICMOS
D. Cruikshank, NASA-ARC: SIRTF
C. Burrows, STScI: The Advanced Camera on HST
J. Mather, GSFC: Next-Generation Space Telescope
- Fri. afternoon, 2:00:
Conclusion and summary:
R. Brown, STScI: Conference summary
Scientific Organizing Committee
David Soderblom, STScI, Chair
Ron Allen, STScI
K. Noll, STScI
Chas Beichman, JPL
Mike Werner, JPL
Paul Feldman, JHU
Geoff Marcy, SFSU/UCB
Note that this schedule should allow speakers to plan on leaving Baltimore
late Friday afternoon, such as some of the ~5 pm departures westbound.
Dave Soderblom,
soderblom@stsci.edu