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ASTR 160 - Frontiers and Controversies in Astrophysics

Lecture 07 - Direct Imaging of Exoplanets. Class begins with a problem on transits and learning what information astronomers obtain through observing them. For example, radii of stars can be estimated. Furthermore, applying the Doppler shift method, one can find the mass of a star. Finally, a star's density can be calculated. A second method for identifying planets around stars is introduced: the astrometry method. The method allows for an extremely accurate assessment of a star's precise position in the sky. Special features of the astrometry method are discussed and a number of problems are solved. A short summary is given on the three methods astronomers use to identify exoplanets. Class ends with an overview of upcoming space missions and the hope of detecting the presence of biological activity on other planet. (from oyc.yale.edu)

Lecture 07 - Direct Imaging of Exoplanets

Time Lecture Chapters
[00:00:00] 1. Calculating Planetary Density from Transits and Doppler Shifts
[00:09:14] 2. Astrometry to Assess Planetary Position
[00:23:55] 3. Summary of Planetary Identification Methods
[00:34:12] 4. Kepler, SIM, and TPF

References
ASTR 160: Lecture 7 - Direct Imaging of Exoplanets
Instructor: Professor Charles Bailyn. Class Notes Lecture 7 [pdf]. Sample Midterm Exam and Solutions [pdf]. Transcript [html]. Audio [mp3]. Download Video [mov].

Go to the Course Home or watch other lectures:

Lecture 01 - Introduction
Lecture 02 - Planetary Orbits
Lecture 03 - Our Solar System and the Pluto Problem
Lecture 04 - Discovering Exoplanets: Hot Jupiters
Lecture 05 - Planetary Transits
Lecture 06 - Microlensing, Astrometry and Other Methods
Lecture 07 - Direct Imaging of Exoplanets
Lecture 08 - Introduction to Black Holes
Lecture 09 - Special and General Relativity
Lecture 10 - Tests of Relativity
Lecture 11 - Special and General Relativity (cont.)
Lecture 12 - Stellar Mass Black Holes
Lecture 13 - Stellar Mass Black Holes (cont.)
Lecture 14 - Pulsars
Lecture 15 - Supermassive Black Holes
Lecture 16 - Hubble's Law and the Big Bang
Lecture 17 - Hubble's Law and the Big Bang (cont.)
Lecture 18 - Hubble's Law and the Big Bang (cont.)
Lecture 19 - Omega and the End of the Universe
Lecture 20 - Dark Matter
Lecture 21 - Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe and the Big Rip
Lecture 22 - Supernovae
Lecture 23 - Other Constraints: The Cosmic Microwave Background
Lecture 24 - The Multiverse and Theories of Everything