exoplanets
Vanderbilt, The Ohio State University are joint Founding Members of satellite mission ‘Twinkle’ to find potentially habitable worlds around nearby stars
Jul. 23, 2020—Following the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission, Vanderbilt astronomer Keivan Stassun leads the next phase of discovery to find atmospheres like our own.
Vanderbilt astronomers among NASA’s TESS Mission team to discover a rare newly formed planet
Jun. 24, 2020—Stars mapped out by Vanderbilt astronomers for exploration by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission and recently decommissioned Spitzer Space Telescope have led to the discovery of AU Mic b, a newly formed Neptune-like exoplanet located a relatively short 31.9 light-years away.
NASA’s TESS mission to discover new worlds will use a map developed at Vanderbilt
Apr. 16, 2018—Vanderbilt’s Keivan Stassun serves as a deputy principal investigator on the mission and is tasked with identifying the most promising stars to target in its search for habitable nearby planets.
Better way to weigh millions of solitary stars
Dec. 14, 2017—Astronomers have come up with a new and improved method for measuring the masses of millions of solitary stars, especially those with planetary systems.
CANCELED: View rare daytime astronomical event at Dyer Observatory May 9
Apr. 26, 2016—Visitors will have the unusual opportunity to safely view the planet Mercury as it transits directly across the face of the sun using Dyer Observatory’s solar telescopes.
The Search for Earth-Like Planets
Sep. 26, 2014—Researchers have developed a model that estimates the effect that a star's diet has on its chemical composition. This model will add substantially to astronomers’ understanding of the process of planet formation as well as assist in the ongoing search for Earth-like exoplanets.
Astronomers identify signature of Earth-eating stars
May. 16, 2014—Vanderbilt astronomers have developed a model that predicts the effect that ingesting earth-like planets has on the chemical composition of stars like the Sun -- a capability that can aid in efforts to find Earth-like exoplanets.
Vanderbilt’s role in new planet-finding space mission
May. 1, 2013—A team of Vanderbilt astronomers will play a key role in the planet-seeking space telescope that NASA has just approved and scheduled for launch in 2017.
“Extremely little” telescope discovers pair of odd planets
Jun. 13, 2012—A small telescope with a lens no more powerful than a high-end digital camera has discovered the existence of two very unusual exoplanets.