No longer the stuff of science fiction, astronomers know there are other planets orbiting stars similar to our sun out beyond our solar system. A way to find out more about these planets is by watching Undiscovered Worlds, a new Adler Planetarium show that opens March 2, 2012. The show is worth traveling to downtown Chicago.
In Undiscovered Worlds, developed by the Boston Planetarium, you learn that hundreds of “exoplanets” have been found, how they are located and why the "Goldilocks Zone" is important when searching for life on other planets.
“This is a very hot field of research. There are new results coming in all the time,” said Adler astronomer Mark Hammergren. “We’re now steadily moving toward finding life. That’s the big goal. Finding life in the universe beyond our planet has been elusive.”
Even though how some of the planets look is in the realm of informed speculation based on how close or far they are from their star and their composition, finding them is the result of solid data from the Kepler Telescope sent up by NASA March 2009 and ground-based telescopes, according to Hammergren.
He also thinks the show does a good job of explaining what astronomers and citizen planet hunters look for and then how precise measurements give further information.
“The show is absolutely driven by science. It gets it right,” Hammergren said.
Among the planet finding techniques explained are searches for tiny light dips in stars. A dip in light happens when a planet crosses in front of the star because it temporarily blocks the light.
“When astronomers and planet hunters look through the Kepler data they look for light curves and brightness variations that a computer might miss," he said.
Hammergren explained. "There is so much data from 150,000 target stars that an automatic computer might fail to pick up everything. The Kepler data is public and members of the public have found planets around stars. When confirmed, the stars are flagged,” he said.
As to the Goldilocks Zone, Hammergren pointed out there is a relatively narrow habitable distance from a star where a planet can support life. “You want it not too hot and not too cold,” he said.
Undiscovered Worlds will be in the Definiti Space Theater, beginning March 2, 2012.
Adler Planetarium general admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors and $8 for children ages 3-11. Admission to either the Definiti Space Theater Show or 3D Universe Theater is an additional $10. Chicagoans with ID should ask about residency discounts.
The Adler Planetarium is at the east end of the Museum Campus near Soldier’s Field at 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605. The Adler can be reached by Chicago Transit Authority's transportation system. To take a train in from outlying areas check Metra
For more information, call 312-922-STAR (7827) or visit Adler Planetarium
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