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Exoplanet Activity of the Planetary Society Exoplanet Activity of the Planetary Society James Burke and Andrea Carroll The Planetary Society 85 South Grand Avenue From Conjecture to Reality: An Event That May Change Our Lives Pasadena, CA 91105 USA For many decades scientists have believed that star formation must often lead to forming planets. Now they Phone: (626) 793-5100 Email: [email protected] know that it often does. This is the kind of event that can happen only once in a scientific quest. In this case it Email: [email protected] is far more important than most people realize, because of its implications for a possible next step; namely, the discovery of habitable planets in the habitable zones of stars -- an indication that life may be common in the cosmos. What We Do This next step is now just beyond our instrumental reach, but already we are at its threshold. Soon we shall Planetary Society Executive Director Bill Nye know. Not only will we count these habitable worlds; we will begin to characterize them and seek the ®) The six planet system at Kepler 11. Image: NASA/Tim Pyle (the Science Guy and members, in more than signatures of life. 100 countries, are shaping our future in space. Tens Earth's surface life is shielded, by our magnetosphere and ozone layer, The Planetary Society blog highlights discoveries of thousands more people visit our website to find from the ionizing radiation that sterilizes the surface of Mars. Is as they happen, often calling in guest bloggers or out how they can be involved in deep space exploration. planetary magnetism essential for surface life, and if so, is a citing current accounts. In a recent post, Emily magnetosphere a life marker? Beyond that, is surface life essential for Lakdawalla cited Amir Alexander’s article on our The Planetary Society partners with space agencies website, “Kepler Discoveries Suggest a Galaxy the rise and evolution of civilizations? Detecting radio emissions and science teams to push education initiatives out analogous to those from the Jovian system could be a first step toward Rich in Life” excerpted below: to the world. You can fly your name to another world answering this question. on a space mission, enter a contest to design a mission “The search for distant Earths in the depths of space to an asteroid, or study newly discovered exoplanets. One purpose of the Planetary Society is to bring these questions, and in took a giant leap forward with the discovery of five The Phoenix DVD, now on Mars, contains 250,000 names and a library of science fiction and art. It is Earth auroral kilometric radiation. due time their answers, if answers there may be, into the consciousness Planetary Society members are building LightSail-1, Graph: From Sounds of Space by Don Gurnett, University of Iowa. one of many Messages from Earth that the Planetary of the people of Earth. a solar sail project using the only known propulsion Society has sent on missions throughout our solar e technology that can take us to the stars. Science fiction system and beyond: Two Pioneers and two Voyagers, Objectives bearing messages from Earth, are outbound to can become science fact. interstellar space. Image: NASA For 30 years, the Planetary Society has excited people around the world about planetary science and the Earth-size planet candidates orbiting in the search for extraterrestrial life. This interest often translates to a willingness to help fund projects. A Visit us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Listen habitable zone – the region around a star where weekly to scientists, engineers, educators and artists on campaign, incorporating information and a call to action, can generate donations for exoplanet searches, liquid water is stable. If follow-up observations public education and scientific investigations of discovered worlds. Planetary Radio or read our daily blog or our magazine, Conclusions confirm the discovery, the five planets would be The Planetary Report. The Planetary Society helps you We are already supporting some exoplanets investigations, and with the recent discovery of thousands more among the first ever detected which could have understand and appreciate your place in deep space. such objects, there is an opportunity for more diverse and innovative Planetary Society initiatives. water on their surface, and possibly – life.” The Planetary Society is well placed, in this atmosphere of exoplanet discovery, to Methods People worldwide supported the Planetary References generate public awareness of Society’s campaign to provide seed the fundamental importance planetary.org/exoplanets We educate, with initiatives for children, young adults and professionals. Kepler. Image:NASA/ARC funding for the FINDS Exo-Earths project. of what is going on, and to We stage contests for children, such as naming the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. This instrument, installed on the 3-meter twitter.com/exploreplanets interest and excite people The Planetary Report features in-depth articles. telescope at the Lick Observatory, is planetary.org/blog around the world in this bold Planetary Radio is on the air, on the web and available as a podcast. helping increase discoveries of smaller The Planetary Report endeavor. The answers we find planetary.org/radio Artist’s rendition The Planetary A blog about discoveries and missions, with staff and guest writers, is on the web. exoplanets and is verifying Earth-sized of LightSail-1. Image: Report. Cat's might change our whole facebook.com/planetarysociety David Imbaratto, Stellar Eye nebula Members send letters and questions that we engage experts to answer. planet candidates from the Kepler planet- Exploration. civilization. (NGC6543). Hubble planetary.org/messages Image: NASA / ESA / HEIC Members funded the Catalog of Exoplanets on our website. It is continuously updated. Anyone can access it. hunter mission. and the Hubble Heritage planetary.org/lightsail Team (STScI / AURA / R. Corradi and Z. Tsvetanov) This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. An artist's impression of hot Jupiter HD 189733b. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ or send Image: ESA, NASA and G. Tinetti (University College London, UK & ESA) http://planetary.org a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro St, Ste 900, Mountain View, CA 94041 USA..
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