astro 101 exoplanet lab - olympic collegefaculty.olympic.edu/dfong/astro101_exoplanet.pdfastro 101...

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Astro 101 – Exoplanet Lab Lab objectives 1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets 2) Explore the surface of habitable worlds 3) Learn about some strange new worlds 4) Learn about some scary new worlds 5) Explore worlds that monsters may inhabit 6) Identify exoplanets you may or may not want to visit 1) Exoplanet Detection Techniques Exoplanets are challenging to observe because the central stars are typically billions of times brighter than the dim starlight reflected off the exoplanets. Astronomers have developed many techniques to detect exoplanets, orbiting their stars, without directly seeing them. Open a web browser and go to exoplanets.nasa.gov/interactable/11/ to learn about the 5 ways to find an Exoplanet. Click on each method and describe them in the table below. Name of Detection Method Description of the Observing Technique Planets Discovered Name: _____________________________

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Page 1: Astro 101 Exoplanet Lab - Olympic Collegefaculty.olympic.edu/dfong/Astro101_exoplanet.pdfAstro 101 – Exoplanet Lab Lab objectives 1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets

Astro 101 – Exoplanet Lab

Lab objectives

1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets

2) Explore the surface of habitable worlds

3) Learn about some strange new worlds

4) Learn about some scary new worlds

5) Explore worlds that monsters may inhabit

6) Identify exoplanets you may or may not want to visit

1) Exoplanet Detection Techniques

Exoplanets are challenging to observe because the central stars are typically billions of times

brighter than the dim starlight reflected off the exoplanets. Astronomers have developed many

techniques to detect exoplanets, orbiting their stars, without directly seeing them.

Open a web browser and go to exoplanets.nasa.gov/interactable/11/ to learn about the

5 ways to find an Exoplanet. Click on each method and describe them in the table below.

Name of Detection Method

Description of the Observing Technique Planets Discovered

Name: _____________________________

Page 2: Astro 101 Exoplanet Lab - Olympic Collegefaculty.olympic.edu/dfong/Astro101_exoplanet.pdfAstro 101 – Exoplanet Lab Lab objectives 1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets

2) Habitable Worlds

2a) Go to exoplanets.nasa.gov/the-search-for-life/habitable-zones/ to learn about finding

habitable planets. What is the habitable zone? Explain why this zone is important.

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2b) Go to exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/exoplanet-travel-bureau/ to explore the exoplanets

listed below to determine if those worlds can potentially sustain liquid water on their surfaces.

Exoplanet Signs of liquid surface water

(Yes/No)

Additional Questions

Trappist-1e How many planets are visible in the sky?

Kepler-16b What is strange about the shadows on the ground?

Kepler-186f What is the color of the sky and why is it that color?

Page 3: Astro 101 Exoplanet Lab - Olympic Collegefaculty.olympic.edu/dfong/Astro101_exoplanet.pdfAstro 101 – Exoplanet Lab Lab objectives 1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets

3) Strange New Worlds Go to exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/strange-new-worlds/ to explore some Strange New

Worlds. Click on each exoplanet and the related links to find the information to fill in the table.

Click on the SYSTEM button to display the exoplanet orbit & click on Compare Solar System

button to compare the exoplanet system with our solar system. You can also zoom in & out of

the exoplanet system and change the viewing angle by using the cursor.

Exoplanet Planet Type Orbital Period (Days)

Detection Method In Habitable Zone (Yes/No/Unknown)

Kepler-16 b

Interesting features:

Kepler-22 b

Interesting features:

Kepler-7 b

Interesting features:

55 Cancri e

Interesting features:

Kepler-452 b

Interesting features:

Missing

Exoplanet

Interesting features:

Page 4: Astro 101 Exoplanet Lab - Olympic Collegefaculty.olympic.edu/dfong/Astro101_exoplanet.pdfAstro 101 – Exoplanet Lab Lab objectives 1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets

4) Scary New Worlds

Go to exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/galaxy-of-horrors/ to explore worlds in the Galaxy of

Horrors. Click on each exoplanet and the related links to find the information to fill in the table.

Exoplanet Planet Type Orbital Period (Days)

Detection Method In Habitable Zone (Yes/No/Unknown)

TrEs-2b

Scary features:

55 Cancri e

Scary features:

HD 189733b

Scary features:

PSR

B1257+12c

Scary features:

Kepler-70 b

Scary features:

Wasp 12b

Scary features:

Page 5: Astro 101 Exoplanet Lab - Olympic Collegefaculty.olympic.edu/dfong/Astro101_exoplanet.pdfAstro 101 – Exoplanet Lab Lab objectives 1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets

5) Worlds Monsters May Inhabit

Go to exoplanets.nasa.gov/alien-worlds/universe-of-monsters/ to explore some worlds in the

Universe of Monsters. Click on each exoplanet and the related links to find the information to

fill in the table.

Exoplanet Planet Type Orbital Period (Days)

Detection Method Monster Inhabitant

Frankenstein’s Monster

Features suited for the monster:

Vampire

Features suited for the monster:

Werewolf

Features suited for the monster:

Mummy

Features suited for the monster:

Skeleton Army

Features suited for the monster:

Zombie Horde

Features suited for the monster:

Page 6: Astro 101 Exoplanet Lab - Olympic Collegefaculty.olympic.edu/dfong/Astro101_exoplanet.pdfAstro 101 – Exoplanet Lab Lab objectives 1) Learn about different techniques to detect exoplanets

6) Exoplanets you may or may not want to visit 6a) Among all of the exoplanet in this lab, which one would you most want to visit? Explain. _____________________________________________________________________________

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6b) Which exoplanet would you not want to get stranded on? Explain.

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