Videos

Astronomy Talk: Kepler, TESS, and Keck Observatory – Driving Our Understanding of Exoplanetary Systems

Guest Speaker:

David Ciardi
Chief Scientist
NASA Exoplanet Science Institute

Launched in 2009, NASA’s Kepler revolutionized our understanding of other worlds by discovering thousands of exoplanet systems. 10 years after Kepler ended, NASA launched TESS to continue the revolution by finding planets around brighter, nearby stars. Ground-based telescopes have been critical to understanding the planets and their host stars throughout this discovery renaissance, with Keck Observatory at the forefront. Dr. Ciardi will explain why space missions like Kepler and TESS need ground-based telescopes, and how Keck Observatory plays a leading role in the world of exoplanet discovery and characterization.

Q & A from Dr. Ciardi’s Talk

 

 

 The staff and management of the W. M. Keck Observatory wish to offer our deepest gratitude to our Astronomy Talk Series sponsors, Rob and Terry Ryan.