Who wants to be an astrophysicist?

Air Date: June 18, 2018

This artist’s impression shows the temperate planet Ross 128 b, with its red dwarf parent star in the background. This planet, which lies only 11 light-years from Earth, was found by a team using ESO’s unique planet-hunting HARPS instrument. The new world is now the second-closest temperate planet to be detected after Proxima b. It is also the closest planet to be discovered orbiting an inactive red dwarf star, which may increase the likelihood that this planet could potentially sustain life. Ross 128 b will be a prime target for ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope, which will be able to search for biomarkers in the planet's atmosphere.

Tomorrow evening at the University of Pennsylvania’s David Rittenhouse Laboratory, Derrick is moderating a panel discussion for aspiring astrophysicists
What’s it take to become an astrophysicist and what’s the life of an astrophysicist like? It’s an opportunity for students and their parents to mingle one-to-one with several astronomy undergrads, graduates, post-docs, researchers and faculty.

This week marks the 343rd anniversary of the founding of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Just up the Thames River from London, it’s the origination point of Earth’s geographic grid system Longitude component, and 0h point on Earth.
Also this week 35 years ago, astronaut Sally Ride became the first American woman in space.

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