"Investigating the Atmospheres of Alien Worlds"
By Dr. Ernst DeMooij, Astrophysics Research Centre, QUB
8PM Monday 9th of March
*Please note tickets can not be refunded*
ABOUT THE LECTURE

The first exoplanet around a star like our Sun was discovered almost 2.5 decades ago. Since than more than three thousand additional exoplanets have been discovered. What is even more interesting is that we have started to investigate atmospheres of these planets using telescopes both on the ground and in space. In this talk I will first show how we can find these exoplanets. In addition, I will show how we can start to study the atmospheres of these alien worlds, and what we have learned from these observations so far.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
I am a lecturer within the exoplanet group at the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen's University Belfast. I started in September 2019 following on from an assistant professor position at Dublin City University. I obtained my PhD from Leiden University on Ground-based Observations of Exoplanet Atmospheres . Following that I was a postdoctoral fellow in Prof. Jayawardhana's group at the University of Toronto, and I subsequently moved to Queen's University Belfast to take up the Michael West Fellowship.
My main research is focused on the characterisation of exoplanet atmospheres using high-resolution spectroscopy, focusing in particular on novel techniques, including Doppler Tomography . In addition, I am interested in characterising exo-ring systems using the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect. I have been studying the recent Hill Sphere transit of beta Pictoris b at high spectral resolution.
SOCIAL RECEPTION
After the lecture there will be a social reception in The Lombard Innand we encourage all of you to come along for a chat.
All are welcome to attend and free food will be kindly provided by The Lombard.
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A prize draw will be held after the lecture.
Booking Information
Date | Monday 9th March |
Time | 8:00p.m. |
Venue | Physics Bldg, Physics Department , Fitzgerald Building, Trinity College Dublin. Parking: Mark Street , Marks Lane , Lombard St. East . Free Parking on the above streets after 7pm |
Admission | €10 (€5 Astronomy Ireland members and concessions) Tickets where possible should be booked in advance. Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the night, please come along 15 minutes early to accommodate. |
Booking | Call 086 06 46 555 to book tickets over the phone using Debit/ Credit Card |
DVD
This lecture is also available to people nationwide (32 counties) on DVD. |
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Acknowledgment: Astronomy Ireland would like to thank the TCD Astrophysics Research Group for hosting Astronomy Ireland public lectures in Trinity College Dublin.