Jan. 29, 2016: Explore extrasolar planets in special UAA Planetarium show

Mississippi State University professor and astrophysicist Dr. Angelle Tanner will present "Extrasolar Planets" at the UAA Planetarium this Friday, Jan. 29, at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets to both shows are on sale now at UAATix.com.

Dr. Tanner has been interested in finding habitable planets outside our solar system since she was quite young. Her research is focused on multiple methods of extrasolar planet detection including using radial velocities, astrometry and direct imaging. She is also involved in research programs devoted to understanding the properties of the stars around which we are looking for planets. These properties include a star's size, rotational velocity, activity and whether it has a dusty debris disk. By knowing the architecture of planetary systems as well as the properties of their host stars, we also learn more about how those planets formed and evolved and how many similar systems exist in our Galaxy. Dr. Tanner hopes to be a primary contributor to the inevitable discovery of life on a nearby, Earth-like planet.

The planetarium will open for seating 30 minutes before the start of each show. You must be in the theater 10 minutes before the show starts. Reserved seats will be released after this time to stand-by customers. There is no entry after the show begins.

For more information, or to learn how to become a UAA Planetarium member, please visit uaa.alaska.edu/planetarium.

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