Join the Inaugural "Future in Space" Hangout on 17 July
Alberto Conti BAE Systems, Inc.
Recent space telescope missions such as Kepler and Spitzer have shown that there are many, many planets orbiting other stars. Current estimates show that for every star in the Milky Way galaxy, there are on average 1.6 planets in orbit around them. Many of these planets may be similar to the Earth and may have the potential to harbor life.
In our first "Future In Space" Hangout, on Friday, 17 July, at 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC), we will explore this relatively new study in space astronomy with expert members of the American Astronomical Society: Natalie Batalha (NASA Ames Research Center) and Sara Seager (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
We will discuss the current state of exoplanet research and look at what exciting results may be in store for us as we deploy the next generation of space telescopes, including the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and the proposed High-Definition Space Telescope (HDST).
Please bring your questions and comments for our experts; we look forward to "Hanging Out" with you! If you use G+, then please let us know you're coming by RSVP'ing on our event page. You can also join us on YouTube.
What Are "Future In Space" Hangouts?
"Future In Space" Hangouts bring the future of space astronomy and astronautics to you every month via Hangouts on Air. With the cooperation of both the American Astronomical Society (AAS) and the American Astronautical Society (the other AAS), our hosts Tony Darnell, Alberto Conti, and Harley Thronson bring you topics that look beyond current space astronomy research and missions and peer into the unfolding possibilities of what we may learn about the universe with members of the American Astronomical Society. We will peer into what we hope to learn about exoplanets, black holes, the early universe, quasars, and life in the universe along with what technologies might help us — and a whole host of other topics in space astronomy.
We will also explore the technology and engineering possibilities of space travel and research with members of the American Astronautical Society and probe what our future in space may look like and how we might get there. We will examine the underlying technologies of future space telescopes, orbiters, landers, and human space vehicles. We will delve into topics that help us understand the possibilities and limitations of human space flight and eventual human colonization of other worlds.
We hope you can join us each month as we bring experts from both AAS's — people who think about and plan for our future in space — to your computer, tablet, or smartphone. We invite you to bring your questions and comments and get ready to learn about the amazing possibilities for the future of space astronomy and exploration.