Planetary Science

Our planetary scientists have been looking for and discovering exoplanets since before they were the hottest field in astronomy.

Since Carnegie astronomer Paul Butler confirmed the existence of the first extrasolar planet orbiting a Sun-like in 1995, scientists have found more than 4,300 planets orbiting stars other than our own. It turns out that most of these planetary systems look very different from ours.

Carnegie scientists are at the vanguard of the effort to characterize exoplanet atmospheres and understand what their compositions can teach us about the processes by which they formed and evolved. This could reveal why our Solar System looks so different.

Carnegie planetary science research exists at an especially exciting nexus of theoretical astrophysics, observational astronomy, and instrument development. Carnegie astronomers cross disciplinary boundaries and partner with geophysicists to investigate the forces that shape the interiors of distant worlds and understand how these dynamics could affect their potential for habitability. They also partner with engineers and instrument developers to advance new techniques for understanding the atmospheres of distant worlds and their potential for habitability.