Institut Teknologi Bandung

Discovering Exoplanets

Planets are celestial bodies that orbit a star (stars are celestial bodies that emit light-red). There are many planets that exist outside the Solar System. These planets each orbit their own star. However, the existence of these planets is hard to detect because they are not light sources themselves. The light from planets is very weak, because they only reflect the light from its star.

Since 1995, astronomers started to find exoplanets, or planets outside the Solar System. Up to when the public lecture was held, 492 exoplanets have been discovered. The first exoplanet was discovered orbiting a star named 51 Pegasi, in the Pegasus constellation.

The technology used to discover exoplanets advances continuously. One method of detection used is the radial velocity method, using a spectograph. With the technology existing now, around 30 planets are found every year.

Extraterrestrial Life

Discussions on exoplanets are inseparable from the probability of discovering life in outer space. Research on extraterrestrial life never stops, even though scientists have have never reached a consensus on the definition of life.

"On the debate about the definition of life, finally, scientists choose a practical definition, namely life as we know it," said Dr. Taufiq Hidayat.

"Some conditions that scientists have maintained for the existence of extraterrestrial life are, among others, the presence of water, oxygen, and ozone," he continued.

Khatulistiwa 2010

Khatulistiwa 2010 is an event held annually by Himastron ITB to welcome World Space Week (2-10/10/10) and Dies Himastron (10/10/10). The events in Khatulistiwa 2010 include Grand Talkshow Astronomy, Seminar on Global Warming vs. Global Cooling, Public Lecture on Constellation Mythology, Public Lecture on Exoplanets and Life, a photo, painting, and poster exhibition, Solar Observation, and Night Observations.