Major exoplanet discovery made with new instrument at ESO

Date: 25 August, 2004
Time: 13:00-14:00
Room: Folkets Hus, room number 307

Dr. Didier Queloz (Geneva Observatory, Switzerland) will announce an important new discovery on exoplanets (planets around stars other than the Sun). Dr. Queloz co-discovered the first exoplanet in 1995. His latest findings were made possible with the unique HARPS instrument at the ESO La Silla Observatory (in operation since October 2003). This instrument is used to repeatedly measure with unparallel accuracy (better than 1m/s) the radial velocity of hundreds of stars to search for the telltale signs of planets. This research programme aims particularly at finding Uranus and Neptune-sized objects.

The plenary session “European Research at the Cutting Edge” is held on 25 August 14:45-17:45, Folkets Hus Congress Hall.