by Ira Polans, Program Chair

The March AAAP meeting is on the 14th at 7:30PM in Peyton Hall on the Princeton University campus. The talk is on the “Strange New Worlds” of exoplanets by Dr. Josh Winn, Princeton University.

Did you know that it wasn’t until the 1990s that scientists could be sure there were planets beyond our solar system? Since then, astronomers have discovered thousands of these planets known as “exoplanets” circling distant stars. Dr. Winn will explain why it took so long to find planets around other stars, what new technologies and techniques were required, and what kind of planets have been found. Recent advances have revealed bizarre new worlds unlike anything in our Solar System, while also bringing us right to the threshold of finding other planets similar to Earth. Dr. Winn’s talk will also cover the latest findings of earth-sized planets recently announced by NASA.

Dr. Winn in addition to being a professor at Princeton, is also a professor at The Great Courses (aka The Teaching Company) and has a course “The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know”. The course will be available after the talk at a special price.

We’re planning to schedule a short meeting (of about 30-45 minutes) either later in March or in April to seek club member suggestions for speakers for next year. In the business half of the March meeting I will be announcing an exciting speaker for the April meeting. We’re hoping to get a large turnout next month!

Prior to the meeting there will be a meet-the-speaker dinner at 6PM at Winberie’s in Palmer Square. If you’re interested in attending please contact program@princetonastronomy.org no later than Noon on March 14.