[Baps] 2 talks this week: Exoplanets and Hayabusa

[Sarah Stewart-Mukhopadhyay]

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics see:
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/cfa/calendar/latest.html

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30

*12 noon:* Solar, Stellar, and Planetary Sciences Division
Seminar</ssp/today.shtml>.
"Characterizing Exoplanetary Systems: The Search for Solar System Analogs,"
Dr. Jason Wright, University of California, Berkeley. Pratt Conference Room.

*Abstract:* For 10 years the California & Carnegie Planet Search has been
collecting precision radial velocities of hundreds of Sun-like stars with
ever-improving precision. Today, this temporal baseline allows us to detect
exoplanets at orbital distances of $\sim$ 5 AU including many in systems
already known to harbor an inner exoplanet. Analysis of incomplete orbits of
longer-period exoplanets allows us to peek beyond this 5 AU curtain, and
recent hardware and software upgrades bring our RV precision to 1 m/s,
allowing us to detect exoplanets of only a few earth masses. Together, these
achievements have helped bring the number of known multiple-planet systems
up to 20 (and counting) and test theories of planet formation and migration.
Although it appears that multiplicity among exoplanets is common, the search
for a true Solar System analog continues.

 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2

*4:00 pm:* Colloquium </colloquia/latest.html>. "Probing Near-Earth Asteroid
Characteristics: The Japanese Hayabusa Mission to Asteroid 25143 Itokawa,"
Dr. Faith Vilas, Director, MMT Observatory. (Anyone wishing to meet with the
speaker should contact the host, Dr. Daniel Fabricant, ext. 5-7398.)
Preceded by tea at 3:30 pm. Phillips Auditorium.

*Abstract: *During the fall of 2005, the Japanese Hayabusa spacecraft was
stationed near the near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa, studying the
attributes of the asteroid and attempting to obtain a sample of the surface
material. The orbiter was equipped with visible/near-infrared imaging
camera, infrared spectrometer, x-ray fluorescence detector and lidar.
Multiple approaches and sampling attempts were made, during which the
spacecraft was damaged. Remarkably, Hayabusa is still making its way back to
the Earth. The Hayabusa mission and characteristics of the NEA Itokawa will
be discussed.
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