TRINIDAD –The next installment of the “CU in the Community” series will feature a presentation by Kevin France, a research associate with CU-Boulder’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Astronomy, at the Massari Theatre at Trinidad State Junior College (TSJC) on Wednesday, February 23, 2011.

The presentation, entitled “Extrasolar Planets: First Views of Alien Worlds,” will focus on the explosion of discovery in the field of extrasolar planets, starting with the first planet discovered orbiting another star in 1995 to the almost 500 extrasolar planets known today. The talk will include a review of our own planetary system, from the times of the Greeks when planets had a mythological significance to the present day when we debate over Pluto’s inclusion as a member of the planetary family. 

France will explain how the first extrasolar planets were discovered and the techniques that are used for most planet-searches today: the “Doppler wobble” and transits. The planets that have been found orbiting other stars have shocked astronomers and thrown the traditional picture of solar system formation on its ear.

Finally, he will describe the surprising class of “hot Jupiters” that have been discovered, focusing on the use of modern telescopes, particularly the Hubble Space Telescope, to determine their size, composition, and temperature, and outline the active areas of extrasolar planet research and what we can hope to discover in the next decade about Earth-like planets around other stars

Tickets for the 7 p.m. are $4 for adults and $3 for seniors and children. They can be purchased at the door the evening of or in advance at the Trinidad Community Foundation at 134 W. Main Street in Suite 24 or Curiosities at 305 W. Main Street.

TSJC students and faculty may attend for free with a school identification card. All proceeds will be given to the TSJC BalloonSat and Robotics Team, which is a members of the Colorado Space Grant Consortium.

The “CU in the Community” series is jointly sponsored by TSJC, Trinidad Community Foundation, Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce, Trinidad Times Independent, and the CU-Boulder Office for University Outreach.

For more information, contact outreach@colorado.edu.