Complete video at: fora.tv
University of California - Berkeley Astronomy Professor Debra Fischer describes the "zoo" of recently discovered extrasolar planets, and compares many of their general attributes - their orbits, masses, and potential to sustain life - to the planets of our own solar system.
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Close to 300 planets outside our solar system have already been discovered. What if we find earth's twin?
The two leading planet hunters Didier Queloz, University of Geneva, and Debra Fischer, San Francisco State University, will talk about their search for planets outside our solar system (exoplanets) and the possibility of finding an earth-like planet, with liquid water on the surface.
They discuss ideas on what such a planet would look like, what would grow, and what kind of life could exist.
Lynette Cook, well-known portraitist of planets, will envision the outcome of this discussion through painting the imagined surface of one of the most recent discoveries: Gliese 581 c - Swissnex San Francisco
Debra Fischer is a professor of astronomy at San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley.
Fischer has co-authored over 80 papers on dwarf and sub-stellar mass objects in the galactic neighborhood, including many on extrasolar planets. She is also a member of the planet search team led by Geoffrey Marcy looking for extrasolar planets.