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: _____________________________
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?
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:
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:
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:
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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