[Baps] Two planetary talks this week

[Sarah T. Stewart-Mukhopadhyay]

TUESDAY, MAY 25
12:30 pm: Theory Lunch Seminar. "Microlensing Searches for Extrasolar
Planets," Dr. Scott Gaudi, CfA. Pratt Conference Room.

Abstract: I review the theory of, results from, and future prospects for
microlensing searches for extrasolar planets. Analyses of well-sampled
microlensing light curves by several collaborations have demonstrated that
current searches are quite sensitive to Jupiter-mass planets at a few AU
separations from M-dwarfs in the Galactic bulge. To date, however, no clear
planetary detections have been made. Detailed analysis has shown that this
null result implies that less than 1/3 of typical stars (i.e. M-dwarfs) in
the Galactic bulge have Jupiter-mass (M ~ MJ) companions between 1.5 and 4
AU, and less than 45% have (M~3MJ) companions between 1 and 7 AU. Recent
upgrades by the OGLE collaboration have resulted in a dramatic increase in
the number of alerted microlensing events per year. This has allowed for
much more efficient searches for planets, and has led to the first detection
of a planet with microlensing. Within a few years, it will be possible to
constrain the frequency of companions with mass as small as ~15 Earth masses
to ~10%. Finally, I speculate on the future of microlensing planet searches,
focusing on the prospects for the detection Earth-mass planets. I argue that
microlensing is likely to be the only technique to supply reliable
detections of Earth-mass planets in the next decade. 


WEDNESDAY, MAY 26
MEETING OF THE METEORITE DISCUSSION GROUP
Dinner, Wine and a Talk

Wednesday, May 26, 8:00 pm: "Impact Craters on Mars: Windows into the Past
and the Present," Sarah Stewart-Mukhopadkyay, Department of Earth &
Planetary Sciences, Harvard University. The lecture will be preceded by a
May wine Festival ($7 for wine and $2 for soft drinks for the evening) at
6:00 pm, and festive spring buffet dinner ($25), catered by The Basil Tree,
at 7:00 pm. To make dinner reservations, call Muazzez Lohmiller, ext.
5-7281, before noon, Monday, May 24. No reservations are necessary to attend
the lecture. Pratt Conference Room. 


More information at:
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/calendar/latest.html


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