thank you very much for having me Kepler exoplanets NASA is on a quest to
Kepler exoplanets NASA is on a quest to
Kepler exoplanets NASA is on a quest to find evidence of life beyond Earth do
find evidence of life beyond Earth do
find evidence of life beyond Earth do not doubt it is one of the grand
not doubt it is one of the grand
not doubt it is one of the grand questions is there anybody out there one
questions is there anybody out there one
questions is there anybody out there one of the grand questions that drives
of the grand questions that drives
of the grand questions that drives strategic planning for NASA astrophysics
strategic planning for NASA astrophysics
strategic planning for NASA astrophysics right there are three paths that we can
right there are three paths that we can
right there are three paths that we can take to get us there to find evidence of
take to get us there to find evidence of
take to get us there to find evidence of life beyond Earth one is solar system
life beyond Earth one is solar system
life beyond Earth one is solar system exploration this beautiful image of the
exploration this beautiful image of the
exploration this beautiful image of the plumes of Enceladus the landscapes of
plumes of Enceladus the landscapes of
plumes of Enceladus the landscapes of Mars that curiosity shows us compels us
Mars that curiosity shows us compels us
Mars that curiosity shows us compels us to explore the solar system and see if
to explore the solar system and see if
to explore the solar system and see if there is life lurking in any of these
there is life lurking in any of these
there is life lurking in any of these nooks and crannies in the subterranean
nooks and crannies in the subterranean
nooks and crannies in the subterranean cave on Mars in the subsurface ocean on
cave on Mars in the subsurface ocean on
cave on Mars in the subsurface ocean on Europa or Enceladus whether or not we
Europa or Enceladus whether or not we
Europa or Enceladus whether or not we find life maybe we’ll find death in
find life maybe we’ll find death in
find life maybe we’ll find death in fossils in extinction regardless the
fossils in extinction regardless the
fossils in extinction regardless the implications are profound
implications are profound
implications are profound the second path is the SETI search ears
the second path is the SETI search ears
the second path is the SETI search ears to the universe listening searching for
to the universe listening searching for
to the universe listening searching for signals that are not astronomical as we
signals that are not astronomical as we
signals that are not astronomical as we understand them signals that are big
understand them signals that are big
understand them signals that are big surprises that might be due to
surprises that might be due to
surprises that might be due to technology might be due to intelligent
technology might be due to intelligent
technology might be due to intelligent life depicted by the Allen telescope
life depicted by the Allen telescope
life depicted by the Allen telescope array up in Northern California but
array up in Northern California but
array up in Northern California but there’s a third path and that’s looking
there’s a third path and that’s looking
there’s a third path and that’s looking for the cradles of life as we know it
for the cradles of life as we know it
for the cradles of life as we know it looking for planets like Earth that
looking for planets like Earth that
looking for planets like Earth that could Harbor surface liquid water and
could Harbor surface liquid water and
could Harbor surface liquid water and could give rise to life as we understand
could give rise to life as we understand
could give rise to life as we understand it here on earth carbon-based life
it here on earth carbon-based life
it here on earth carbon-based life well this path was made possible twenty
well this path was made possible twenty
well this path was made possible twenty years ago with the first discovery of an
years ago with the first discovery of an
years ago with the first discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a normal main
exoplanet orbiting a normal main
exoplanet orbiting a normal main sequence kind of star like our Sun and I
sequence kind of star like our Sun and I
sequence kind of star like our Sun and I just happened to be at that conference I
just happened to be at that conference I
just happened to be at that conference I was a young graduate student at the time
was a young graduate student at the time
was a young graduate student at the time and
and
and is a conference on stars not planets
is a conference on stars not planets
is a conference on stars not planets that field of study didn’t exist at all
that field of study didn’t exist at all
that field of study didn’t exist at all it was cool stars stellar systems in the
it was cool stars stellar systems in the
it was cool stars stellar systems in the Sun no exoplanet in the title right in
Sun no exoplanet in the title right in
Sun no exoplanet in the title right in fact that talk wasn’t even on the agenda
fact that talk wasn’t even on the agenda
fact that talk wasn’t even on the agenda but next thing we knew Michelle my your
but next thing we knew Michelle my your
but next thing we knew Michelle my your Estrella Swiss astronomer went up to the
Estrella Swiss astronomer went up to the
Estrella Swiss astronomer went up to the stage cameras were there and announced
stage cameras were there and announced
stage cameras were there and announced the discovery of 51 peg B and it blew
the discovery of 51 peg B and it blew
the discovery of 51 peg B and it blew our mind it was unlike anything we
our mind it was unlike anything we
our mind it was unlike anything we understood right we understood the solar
understood right we understood the solar
understood right we understood the solar system close to the star you’ve got the
system close to the star you’ve got the
system close to the star you’ve got the small rocky planets further out you’ve
small rocky planets further out you’ve
small rocky planets further out you’ve got the ice and gas giants right that’s
got the ice and gas giants right that’s
got the ice and gas giants right that’s how solar systems are supposed to form
how solar systems are supposed to form
how solar systems are supposed to form that’s how they’re supposed to lay out
that’s how they’re supposed to lay out
that’s how they’re supposed to lay out our own solar system says it is so and
our own solar system says it is so and
our own solar system says it is so and yet here we had a planet discovery a
yet here we had a planet discovery a
yet here we had a planet discovery a planet almost as large as Jupiter with a
planet almost as large as Jupiter with a
planet almost as large as Jupiter with a four-day orbital period around its star
four-day orbital period around its star
four-day orbital period around its star blasted by stellar radiation theorists
blasted by stellar radiation theorists
blasted by stellar radiation theorists did not know how to make a planet like
did not know how to make a planet like
did not know how to make a planet like that and that’s basically how the field
that and that’s basically how the field
that and that’s basically how the field of exoplanets has been ever since we
of exoplanets has been ever since we
of exoplanets has been ever since we have uncovered an unparalleled diversity
have uncovered an unparalleled diversity
have uncovered an unparalleled diversity of worlds but what we want to look for
of worlds but what we want to look for
of worlds but what we want to look for what NASA wants to look for our worlds
what NASA wants to look for our worlds
what NASA wants to look for our worlds not like this gas giant blasted by
not like this gas giant blasted by
not like this gas giant blasted by stellar irradiation where surface liquid
stellar irradiation where surface liquid
stellar irradiation where surface liquid water cannot exist we’re looking for the
water cannot exist we’re looking for the
water cannot exist we’re looking for the cradles of life and so we fast forward
cradles of life and so we fast forward
cradles of life and so we fast forward to march of 2009 3 2 engine start 1 0
to march of 2009 3 2 engine start 1 0
to march of 2009 3 2 engine start 1 0 went left
went left
went left the Delta 2 rocket with a search for
the Delta 2 rocket with a search for
the Delta 2 rocket with a search for planets suddenly like our Kepler NASA’s
planets suddenly like our Kepler NASA’s
planets suddenly like our Kepler NASA’s first mission capable of detecting
first mission capable of detecting
first mission capable of detecting potentially habitable earth-sized
potentially habitable earth-sized
potentially habitable earth-sized planets a Space Telescope launched into
planets a Space Telescope launched into
planets a Space Telescope launched into orbit about the Sun pointed toward one
orbit about the Sun pointed toward one
orbit about the Sun pointed toward one field of view about the size of my hand
field of view about the size of my hand
field of view about the size of my hand near the plane of the Milky Way galaxy
near the plane of the Milky Way galaxy
near the plane of the Milky Way galaxy focusing on about a hundred and fifty
focusing on about a hundred and fifty
focusing on about a hundred and fifty thousand stars they’re measuring their
thousand stars they’re measuring their
thousand stars they’re measuring their brightnesses with very high precision
brightnesses with very high precision
brightnesses with very high precision because for some of those systems
because for some of those systems
because for some of those systems planets that are in orbit about the star
planets that are in orbit about the star
planets that are in orbit about the star will pass directly between the disk of
will pass directly between the disk of
will pass directly between the disk of the star and the telescope and the
the star and the telescope and the
the star and the telescope and the telescope will perceive the presence of
telescope will perceive the presence of
telescope will perceive the presence of that planet as a momentary dimming of
that planet as a momentary dimming of
that planet as a momentary dimming of light a dimming of light that repeats
light a dimming of light that repeats
light a dimming of light that repeats once every orbital cycle this is
once every orbital cycle this is
once every orbital cycle this is Kepler’s first light image every tiny
Kepler’s first light image every tiny
Kepler’s first light image every tiny speck you see every tiny pinpoint on
speck you see every tiny pinpoint on
speck you see every tiny pinpoint on that image as a star in this one
that image as a star in this one
that image as a star in this one handprint on the sky in the
handprint on the sky in the
handprint on the sky in the constellation of Cygnus and Lyra there
constellation of Cygnus and Lyra there
constellation of Cygnus and Lyra there are four and a half million stars in
are four and a half million stars in
are four and a half million stars in this one footprint Kepler observed 150
this one footprint Kepler observed 150
this one footprint Kepler observed 150 thousand of them the precision that’s
thousand of them the precision that’s
thousand of them the precision that’s required to see an earth-sized planet
required to see an earth-sized planet
required to see an earth-sized planet transit across the disk of a sun-like
transit across the disk of a sun-like
transit across the disk of a sun-like star can be described with the following
star can be described with the following
star can be described with the following thought experiment
thought experiment
thought experiment imagine the tallest skyscraper in New
imagine the tallest skyscraper in New
imagine the tallest skyscraper in New York City maybe something like 80
York City maybe something like 80
York City maybe something like 80 storeys high I don’t even know how tall
storeys high I don’t even know how tall
storeys high I don’t even know how tall the tile highest of skyscrapers in New
the tile highest of skyscrapers in New
the tile highest of skyscrapers in New York City anymore but let’s pretend it’s
York City anymore but let’s pretend it’s
York City anymore but let’s pretend it’s about 80 stories high and it’s it’s
about 80 stories high and it’s it’s
about 80 stories high and it’s it’s occupied every single room is occupied
occupied every single room is occupied
occupied every single room is occupied in it’s night time all the windows are
in it’s night time all the windows are
in it’s night time all the windows are open every light is on and one person in
open every light is on and one person in
open every light is on and one person in that building goes to the window and
that building goes to the window and
that building goes to the window and lowers the blinds by about a centimeter
lowers the blinds by about a centimeter
lowers the blinds by about a centimeter that’s the precision that’s required to
that’s the precision that’s required to
that’s the precision that’s required to see this tiny diminution of light caused
see this tiny diminution of light caused
see this tiny diminution of light caused by an earth so what I’d like to do is
by an earth so what I’d like to do is
by an earth so what I’d like to do is give you kind of a big picture of what
give you kind of a big picture of what
give you kind of a big picture of what exoplanets have been discovered since
exoplanets have been discovered since
exoplanets have been discovered since that historic meeting in 1995 in
that historic meeting in 1995 in
that historic meeting in 1995 in Florence Italy where the first exoplanet
Florence Italy where the first exoplanet
Florence Italy where the first exoplanet was announced and I’m going to do that
was announced and I’m going to do that
was announced and I’m going to do that with a scatter
with a scatter
with a scatter Kepler doesn’t take beautiful pictures
Kepler doesn’t take beautiful pictures
Kepler doesn’t take beautiful pictures of planets right we don’t find planets
of planets right we don’t find planets
of planets right we don’t find planets by pointing our telescope up into the
by pointing our telescope up into the
by pointing our telescope up into the sky and saying aha
sky and saying aha
sky and saying aha there’s one we must infer their
there’s one we must infer their
there’s one we must infer their existence by measuring some property of
existence by measuring some property of
existence by measuring some property of the star itself okay so in this scatter
the star itself okay so in this scatter
the star itself okay so in this scatter plot it’s going to be radius or diameter
plot it’s going to be radius or diameter
plot it’s going to be radius or diameter of the planet versus orbital period okay
of the planet versus orbital period okay
of the planet versus orbital period okay and we’re going to animate this plot
and we’re going to animate this plot
and we’re going to animate this plot adding discoveries as they’re made and
adding discoveries as they’re made and
adding discoveries as they’re made and I’m going to first show you the
I’m going to first show you the
I’m going to first show you the discoveries that have been made by every
discoveries that have been made by every
discoveries that have been made by every other team around the world except
other team around the world except
other team around the world except Kepler there will be some horizontal
Kepler there will be some horizontal
Kepler there will be some horizontal there will be some horizontal lines to
there will be some horizontal lines to
there will be some horizontal lines to give you some reference earth-sized has
give you some reference earth-sized has
give you some reference earth-sized has a horizontal line neptune-sized and
a horizontal line neptune-sized and
a horizontal line neptune-sized and jupiter-sized they’re color-coded by the
jupiter-sized they’re color-coded by the
jupiter-sized they’re color-coded by the technique that was used to find them but
technique that was used to find them but
technique that was used to find them but I want you to just get a general feel
I want you to just get a general feel
I want you to just get a general feel for the patterns that are emerging
2005/2006
2005/2006 earth is there for reference at the
earth is there for reference at the
earth is there for reference at the orbital period and size 2011-12 we start
orbital period and size 2011-12 we start
orbital period and size 2011-12 we start to see some patterns there is a swarm of
to see some patterns there is a swarm of
to see some patterns there is a swarm of blue points up there in the left another
blue points up there in the left another
blue points up there in the left another larger swarm of pink points in the upper
larger swarm of pink points in the upper
larger swarm of pink points in the upper right for reference Jupiter would have
right for reference Jupiter would have
right for reference Jupiter would have an orbital period of just over 4,000
an orbital period of just over 4,000
an orbital period of just over 4,000 days so 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 up to
days so 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 up to
days so 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 up to the line that is Jupiter and you see we
the line that is Jupiter and you see we
the line that is Jupiter and you see we have found some Jupiter analogues out
have found some Jupiter analogues out
have found some Jupiter analogues out there in the distant environs of a solar
there in the distant environs of a solar
there in the distant environs of a solar system so this is what the scene looked
system so this is what the scene looked
system so this is what the scene looked looks like barring kepler right over 85%
looks like barring kepler right over 85%
looks like barring kepler right over 85% of those discoveries are planned its
of those discoveries are planned its
of those discoveries are planned its larger than Neptune okay
larger than Neptune okay
larger than Neptune okay now I’m going to show you what Kepler
now I’m going to show you what Kepler
now I’m going to show you what Kepler has added after analyzing four years of
has added after analyzing four years of
has added after analyzing four years of its data through this technique of
its data through this technique of
its data through this technique of transit photometry measuring brightness
transit photometry measuring brightness
transit photometry measuring brightness Kepler has found over 4200 transiting
Kepler has found over 4200 transiting
Kepler has found over 4200 transiting objects 90% of which or more are going
objects 90% of which or more are going
objects 90% of which or more are going to be bona fide exoplanets planets
to be bona fide exoplanets planets
to be bona fide exoplanets planets orbiting other stars in our galaxy
orbiting other stars in our galaxy
orbiting other stars in our galaxy see our blinders have been lifted to
see our blinders have been lifted to
see our blinders have been lifted to small planets the landscape has changed
small planets the landscape has changed
small planets the landscape has changed dramatically right now more than 85% of
dramatically right now more than 85% of
dramatically right now more than 85% of the known planets or the planets known
the known planets or the planets known
the known planets or the planets known to humanity are smaller than Neptune
to humanity are smaller than Neptune
to humanity are smaller than Neptune instead of larger which just goes to
instead of larger which just goes to
instead of larger which just goes to show that it our technology we were
show that it our technology we were
show that it our technology we were hampered by our technology every time
hampered by our technology every time
hampered by our technology every time you build a new piece of technology you
you build a new piece of technology you
you build a new piece of technology you learn a tremendous amount moreover you
learn a tremendous amount moreover you
learn a tremendous amount moreover you can see that there are some yellow
can see that there are some yellow
can see that there are some yellow points kissing that Earth locust at one
points kissing that Earth locust at one
points kissing that Earth locust at one earth diameter and 365 day orbital
earth diameter and 365 day orbital
earth diameter and 365 day orbital periods so Kepler has begun to find
periods so Kepler has begun to find
periods so Kepler has begun to find earth true earth analogs the big
earth true earth analogs the big
earth true earth analogs the big question that Kepler set out to answer
question that Kepler set out to answer
question that Kepler set out to answer is what fraction of stars in our galaxy
is what fraction of stars in our galaxy
is what fraction of stars in our galaxy harbours potentially habitable
harbours potentially habitable
harbours potentially habitable earth-sized planets we want to get a
earth-sized planets we want to get a
earth-sized planets we want to get a feeling for the for the ubiquity of
feeling for the for the ubiquity of
feeling for the for the ubiquity of planets like Earth these cradles of life
planets like Earth these cradles of life
planets like Earth these cradles of life these potential cradles of life are
these potential cradles of life are
these potential cradles of life are Earth’s common are they are they
Earth’s common are they are they
Earth’s common are they are they prevalent in our galaxy or is our own
prevalent in our galaxy or is our own
prevalent in our galaxy or is our own earth somehow special right so what have
earth somehow special right so what have
earth somehow special right so what have we learned from Kepler from Kepler we
we learned from Kepler from Kepler we
we learned from Kepler from Kepler we can now with this large sample of
can now with this large sample of
can now with this large sample of planets we can ask the question okay
planets we can ask the question okay
planets we can ask the question okay what is the population of planets out
what is the population of planets out
what is the population of planets out there what is the dire their diversity
there what is the dire their diversity
there what is the dire their diversity what is the population how far do I have
what is the population how far do I have
what is the population how far do I have to go out into the galaxy before I
to go out into the galaxy before I
to go out into the galaxy before I happen upon a potentially habitable
happen upon a potentially habitable
happen upon a potentially habitable earth-sized planet you can ask this
earth-sized planet you can ask this
earth-sized planet you can ask this question because of Kepler and so the
question because of Kepler and so the
question because of Kepler and so the answer is if we were to take our own
answer is if we were to take our own
answer is if we were to take our own galaxy and we were to shrink it down to
galaxy and we were to shrink it down to
galaxy and we were to shrink it down to the size of the continental United
the size of the continental United
the size of the continental United States and you stand on one coast maybe
States and you stand on one coast maybe
States and you stand on one coast maybe here in Washington DC you look out over
here in Washington DC you look out over
here in Washington DC you look out over the continent and you ask yourself how
the continent and you ask yourself how
the continent and you ask yourself how far is the nearest potentially habitable
far is the nearest potentially habitable
far is the nearest potentially habitable earth-sized planet the answer is about a
earth-sized planet the answer is about a
earth-sized planet the answer is about a stroll across the National Mall between
stroll across the National Mall between
stroll across the National Mall between about the Capitol building and the
about the Capitol building and the
about the Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial or about 15 light years
Lincoln Memorial or about 15 light years
Lincoln Memorial or about 15 light years which
which is very close given the fact that
which is very close given the fact that the galaxies a hundred thousand
the galaxies a hundred thousand
the galaxies a hundred thousand light-years across
okay so what’s next so we’re kind of
okay so what’s next so we’re kind of learning that earth-like planets are
learning that earth-like planets are
learning that earth-like planets are pretty common that’s good that means
pretty common that’s good that means
pretty common that’s good that means that exploration finding evidence of
that exploration finding evidence of
that exploration finding evidence of life following this path has great
life following this path has great
life following this path has great potential so what’s next well here on
potential so what’s next well here on
potential so what’s next well here on the left I’m showing you an image
the left I’m showing you an image
the left I’m showing you an image actually taken of Venus transiting our
actually taken of Venus transiting our
actually taken of Venus transiting our own Sun this is an actual image of a
own Sun this is an actual image of a
own Sun this is an actual image of a planet in our own solar system
planet in our own solar system
planet in our own solar system transiting across the surface of our Sun
transiting across the surface of our Sun
transiting across the surface of our Sun the Hinode spacecraft took this image
the Hinode spacecraft took this image
the Hinode spacecraft took this image and I’m showing it to you because I want
and I’m showing it to you because I want
and I’m showing it to you because I want you to see the very thin layer of orange
you to see the very thin layer of orange
you to see the very thin layer of orange hugging that planet do you see that
hugging that planet do you see that
hugging that planet do you see that that’s the Venusian atmosphere it’s very
that’s the Venusian atmosphere it’s very
that’s the Venusian atmosphere it’s very thin it’s only five kilometers thick I
thin it’s only five kilometers thick I
thin it’s only five kilometers thick I think that’s about the scale height we
think that’s about the scale height we
think that’s about the scale height we call it very thin in terms of area if
call it very thin in terms of area if
call it very thin in terms of area if you collected that whole area it’s only
you collected that whole area it’s only
you collected that whole area it’s only one two hundred three hundred the area
one two hundred three hundred the area
one two hundred three hundred the area of the disk itself all right so it’s
of the disk itself all right so it’s
of the disk itself all right so it’s very very thin but here’s the thing
very very thin but here’s the thing
very very thin but here’s the thing the sunlight shining on the planet from
the sunlight shining on the planet from
the sunlight shining on the planet from behind is filtering through that
behind is filtering through that
behind is filtering through that atmosphere that’s hugging it right and
atmosphere that’s hugging it right and
atmosphere that’s hugging it right and when it does that the atmosphere itself
when it does that the atmosphere itself
when it does that the atmosphere itself is leaving a fingerprint on that light
is leaving a fingerprint on that light
is leaving a fingerprint on that light if I’m on the other side I can collect
if I’m on the other side I can collect
if I’m on the other side I can collect that light I can spread it out into a
that light I can spread it out into a
that light I can spread it out into a spectrum I inspect it and I can I can
spectrum I inspect it and I can I can
spectrum I inspect it and I can I can disentangle the fingerprint that that
disentangle the fingerprint that that
disentangle the fingerprint that that atmosphere left on the light which means
atmosphere left on the light which means
atmosphere left on the light which means I may have the ability with enough
I may have the ability with enough
I may have the ability with enough sensitivity to disentangle what that
sensitivity to disentangle what that
sensitivity to disentangle what that atmosphere was made of on the right hand
atmosphere was made of on the right hand
atmosphere was made of on the right hand side of this image is cyanobacteria
side of this image is cyanobacteria
side of this image is cyanobacteria it’s like algae and this microscopic
it’s like algae and this microscopic
it’s like algae and this microscopic picture of cyanobacteria was caught in
picture of cyanobacteria was caught in
picture of cyanobacteria was caught in the act of metabolizing and producing a
the act of metabolizing and producing a
the act of metabolizing and producing a tiny burp of oxygen the very process
tiny burp of oxygen the very process
tiny burp of oxygen the very process which created the oxygen on our own
which created the oxygen on our own
which created the oxygen on our own planet and gave rise to more complex
planet and gave rise to more complex
planet and gave rise to more complex life-forms okay so that’s the kind of
life-forms okay so that’s the kind of
life-forms okay so that’s the kind of signature that we would want to see by
signature that we would want to see by
signature that we would want to see by catching the light filtering through the
catching the light filtering through the
catching the light filtering through the atmosphere that’s called transmission
atmosphere that’s called transmission
atmosphere that’s called transmission now that’s very tough but the James Webb
now that’s very tough but the James Webb
now that’s very tough but the James Webb Space Telescope is going to do that very
Space Telescope is going to do that very
Space Telescope is going to do that very thing for maybe larger planets more like
thing for maybe larger planets more like
thing for maybe larger planets more like mini Neptune’s another technique that
mini Neptune’s another technique that
mini Neptune’s another technique that I’m looking forward to is imaging what
I’m looking forward to is imaging what
I’m looking forward to is imaging what we really want talking about big dreams
we really want talking about big dreams
we really want talking about big dreams what we really want is to catch the
what we really want is to catch the
what we really want is to catch the light reflecting off of the surface of a
light reflecting off of the surface of a
light reflecting off of the surface of a planet here you’ve got the blue marble
planet here you’ve got the blue marble
planet here you’ve got the blue marble on the left an iconic image taken by the
on the left an iconic image taken by the
on the left an iconic image taken by the Apollo astronauts leaving Earth on the
Apollo astronauts leaving Earth on the
Apollo astronauts leaving Earth on the way to the moon that’s an image that was
way to the moon that’s an image that was
way to the moon that’s an image that was taken from 22,000 miles away the first
taken from 22,000 miles away the first
taken from 22,000 miles away the first full disk image of our planet and you
full disk image of our planet and you
full disk image of our planet and you can see the reflected light the light
can see the reflected light the light
can see the reflected light the light from the Sun that’s reflecting off the
from the Sun that’s reflecting off the
from the Sun that’s reflecting off the planet and into the camera of the Apollo
planet and into the camera of the Apollo
planet and into the camera of the Apollo astronaut right on the right hand side
astronaut right on the right hand side
astronaut right on the right hand side it’s the pale blue dot of Earth taken by
it’s the pale blue dot of Earth taken by
it’s the pale blue dot of Earth taken by this Cassini spacecraft from 900 million
this Cassini spacecraft from 900 million
this Cassini spacecraft from 900 million miles away it’s unresolved you don’t see
miles away it’s unresolved you don’t see
miles away it’s unresolved you don’t see the surface features right but the
the surface features right but the
the surface features right but the information is there if you look at the
information is there if you look at the
information is there if you look at the Apollo image the way light reflects off
Apollo image the way light reflects off
Apollo image the way light reflects off of every element of that disc is
of every element of that disc is
of every element of that disc is different right the way it reflects off
different right the way it reflects off
different right the way it reflects off ocean is different than the way it
ocean is different than the way it
ocean is different than the way it reflects off land which is different
reflects off land which is different
reflects off land which is different than the way it reflects off forests and
than the way it reflects off forests and
than the way it reflects off forests and those features those peculiarities will
those features those peculiarities will
those features those peculiarities will be present in the light even if it’s
be present in the light even if it’s
be present in the light even if it’s unresolved it will be present in the
unresolved it will be present in the
unresolved it will be present in the light if we can take it with enough
light if we can take it with enough
light if we can take it with enough sensitivity we can spread it out into a
sensitivity we can spread it out into a
sensitivity we can spread it out into a rainbow and we can see the indications
rainbow and we can see the indications
rainbow and we can see the indications of those surface features it’s tough
of those surface features it’s tough
of those surface features it’s tough these planets are faint 10 billion times
these planets are faint 10 billion times
these planets are faint 10 billion times fainter than the star they orbit we are
fainter than the star they orbit we are
fainter than the star they orbit we are overwhelmed by the glare of the parent
overwhelmed by the glare of the parent
overwhelmed by the glare of the parent star how are we going to see this faint
star how are we going to see this faint
star how are we going to see this faint little smudge that is an earth-like
little smudge that is an earth-like
little smudge that is an earth-like planet potentially habitable earth-like
planet potentially habitable earth-like
planet potentially habitable earth-like planet well the way that we think about
planet well the way that we think about
planet well the way that we think about doing it
doing it
doing it it’s kind of like the way I would see
it’s kind of like the way I would see
it’s kind of like the way I would see you out here in the audience I’d have to
you out here in the audience I’d have to
you out here in the audience I’d have to put my thumb over these lights oh wow
put my thumb over these lights oh wow
put my thumb over these lights oh wow that works right we block out the light
that works right we block out the light
that works right we block out the light of the parent star the problem is you
of the parent star the problem is you
of the parent star the problem is you know that the little planet is like a
know that the little planet is like a
know that the little planet is like a little Matt orbiting a big search light
little Matt orbiting a big search light
little Matt orbiting a big search light or a spotlight right a lighthouse so I
or a spotlight right a lighthouse so I
or a spotlight right a lighthouse so I take my thumb and I cover it and then
take my thumb and I cover it and then
take my thumb and I cover it and then maybe I can see the net flying next to
maybe I can see the net flying next to
maybe I can see the net flying next to it but light bends it bends around
it but light bends it bends around
it but light bends it bends around obstacles it still kind of introduces
obstacles it still kind of introduces
obstacles it still kind of introduces this diffraction this interference so I
this diffraction this interference so I
this diffraction this interference so I have to be careful about the way that I
have to be careful about the way that I
have to be careful about the way that I design my thumb you know I need to be
design my thumb you know I need to be
design my thumb you know I need to be kind of fancy about it but that kind of
kind of fancy about it but that kind of
kind of fancy about it but that kind of technology is being developed today as
technology is being developed today as
technology is being developed today as we speak and here’s a little clip
we speak and here’s a little clip
we speak and here’s a little clip showing some of that technology
showing some of that technology
showing some of that technology happening at JPL this is an animation of
happening at JPL this is an animation of
happening at JPL this is an animation of what the thumb would look like you
what the thumb would look like you
what the thumb would look like you launch a system a Space Telescope that
launch a system a Space Telescope that
launch a system a Space Telescope that has connected to it a sunflower the
has connected to it a sunflower the
has connected to it a sunflower the petals that you see unfurling are a star
petals that you see unfurling are a star
petals that you see unfurling are a star shade that’s the thumb that you hold up
shade that’s the thumb that you hold up
shade that’s the thumb that you hold up you fly it out some thousands of
you fly it out some thousands of
you fly it out some thousands of kilometres away and you use it to
kilometres away and you use it to
kilometres away and you use it to perfectly block the glare from the star
perfectly block the glare from the star
perfectly block the glare from the star thereby revealing the faint Nets
thereby revealing the faint Nets
thereby revealing the faint Nets orbiting the lighthouse all right so
orbiting the lighthouse all right so
orbiting the lighthouse all right so I’ll end with this image 500 light-years
I’ll end with this image 500 light-years
I’ll end with this image 500 light-years away there is a star called kepler-186
away there is a star called kepler-186
away there is a star called kepler-186 in the constellation of Cygnus that
in the constellation of Cygnus that
in the constellation of Cygnus that cygnus lyra region it’s a red star a
cygnus lyra region it’s a red star a
cygnus lyra region it’s a red star a star that’s cooler than our own Sun and
star that’s cooler than our own Sun and
star that’s cooler than our own Sun and Kepler has found five planets so far
Kepler has found five planets so far
Kepler has found five planets so far orbiting that star the fifth planet out
orbiting that star the fifth planet out
orbiting that star the fifth planet out at an orbital period of about 192 days
at an orbital period of about 192 days
at an orbital period of about 192 days is within the uncertainty the same size
is within the uncertainty the same size
is within the uncertainty the same size as the earth to within 10% so what
as the earth to within 10% so what
as the earth to within 10% so what you’re seeing here is not an image of
you’re seeing here is not an image of
you’re seeing here is not an image of that planet remember Kepler does not
that planet remember Kepler does not
that planet remember Kepler does not take pictures of planets it infers its
take pictures of planets it infers its
take pictures of planets it infers its existence and so we have to put a little
existence and so we have to put a little
existence and so we have to put a little bit of our imagination into this we tell
bit of our imagination into this we tell
bit of our imagination into this we tell everything that we know to the artist
everything that we know to the artist
everything that we know to the artist and let him bring this
and let him bring this
and let him bring this old to life but I ask myself the
old to life but I ask myself the
old to life but I ask myself the question you know if you have water
question you know if you have water
question you know if you have water you’re likely to have at least simple
you’re likely to have at least simple
you’re likely to have at least simple life form simple microbes maybe
life form simple microbes maybe
life form simple microbes maybe single-celled things how does life begin
single-celled things how does life begin
single-celled things how does life begin does it begin with a with a spark a
does it begin with a with a spark a
does it begin with a with a spark a sputter a smolder does it evolve slowly
sputter a smolder does it evolve slowly
sputter a smolder does it evolve slowly or is it that when you have simple
or is it that when you have simple
or is it that when you have simple celled organisms microorganisms when
celled organisms microorganisms when
celled organisms microorganisms when they take hold does life begin by
they take hold does life begin by
they take hold does life begin by igniting transforming the global
igniting transforming the global
igniting transforming the global landscape we don’t know which it is or
landscape we don’t know which it is or
landscape we don’t know which it is or if it’s someplace in between but what I
if it’s someplace in between but what I
if it’s someplace in between but what I know is we creatures we are these
know is we creatures we are these
know is we creatures we are these creatures these portals to the universe
creatures these portals to the universe
creatures these portals to the universe we are the universe becomes self-aware
we are the universe becomes self-aware
we are the universe becomes self-aware right our bodies are these portals to
right our bodies are these portals to
right our bodies are these portals to the universe observing itself and as
the universe observing itself and as
the universe observing itself and as such by our self-awareness by DeVille by
such by our self-awareness by DeVille by
such by our self-awareness by DeVille by definition that means that by necessity
definition that means that by necessity
definition that means that by necessity we reach out so when we do find a planet
we reach out so when we do find a planet
we reach out so when we do find a planet that harbours life that is a habitable
that harbours life that is a habitable
that harbours life that is a habitable environment that has bio signatures and
environment that has bio signatures and
environment that has bio signatures and this is possible within the next one or
this is possible within the next one or
this is possible within the next one or two generations maybe two or three by
two generations maybe two or three by
two generations maybe two or three by necessity we are going to want to reach
necessity we are going to want to reach
necessity we are going to want to reach out and I wonder what potential will be
out and I wonder what potential will be
out and I wonder what potential will be unlocked when we go what potential will
unlocked when we go what potential will
unlocked when we go what potential will be unlocked when we connect thank you
be unlocked when we connect thank you
be unlocked when we connect thank you very much
”
Be First to Comment