Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/03/2026
10:30 am - 11:30 am

BSB 108

Dr. Megan Medell
Research Scientist
Flatiron Institute, Centre for Computational Astrophysics
Profile link: http://bedell.space

Title: The Search for Other Earths
Abstract: Detecting a true Earth twin exoplanet (an Earth-mass planet orbiting a Sun-like star within the habitable zone) has recently become feasible for the first time thanks to advances in observational technology. I will give an overview of the motivations and challenges in achieving this goal, and in discovering new exoplanets more generally. In particular, I’ll focus on the Terra Hunting Experiment, an upcoming radial velocity (RV) survey dedicated to the search for Earth twins. I will present recent work that aims to enable Earth-like exoplanet detection on many fronts, from survey strategy and data analysis methods to understanding the astrophysical variability of Sun-like stars. I’ll conclude with a look at what’s to come for the fast-evolving field of exoplanet studies.