Duration
20h Th, 15h Pr
Number of credits
| Master in space sciences (120 ECTS) | 4 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Since the end of last century, several thousand planets have been detected outside our solar system. The thorough characterization of a fraction of them has inaugurated a new scientific discipline called exoplanetology, i.e. planetology applied to extrasolar planetary systems. The purpose of the course is to provide an introduction to this young branch of astrophysics. It begins with an overview of the characteristics of our own solar system, followed by a description of the current paradigm of its formation. The dynamics of planetary systems is then discussed, and followed by several lessons presenting respectively the indirect and direct methods of exoplanets detection and characterization. The next lessons are more theoretical and discuss the models of planetary structure and atmosphere, relating them to the observational results. Finally, the course uses the overall picture sketched by the observational results to examine the frequency of planets that harbor life and our potential ability to detect its existence.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The objectives of the course are to introduce the student to the physical phenomena involved in a planetary system, to the methods of detection and study of exoplanets, and to the theoretical implications of the observational results and statistics. At the end of the course, the student should have sufficient basis for the deepening of the subject via the consultation of the literature, and for a possible active involvement in exoplanetology research.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
No specific prerequisite.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The theoretical part of the course consists of 10 sessions of 2hrs each. It is complemented by an additional sesssion of 2 hrs aiming to inform the student of the objectives and methology of the practical work to be performed. This work will be based on the preparation and analysis of observations of an exoplanet transit with one of the two TRAPPIST robotic telescopes of ULiege. The students will do this work by groups of two to four, and they will have to present their results in a summary report.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Face-to-face.
Recommended or required readings
PowerPoint slides shown during the courses will be provided to the students in electronic format.
Although not mandatory, the consultation of the following books in English can be seen as a good complement:
* Transiting exoplanets, Carole A. Haswell, Cambridge University Press (2010)
* Exoplanets, Sara Seager (Editor), Space Science Series, University of Arizona Press (2011).
* The Exoplanet Handbook (2nd Edition), Michael Perryman, Cambridge University Press (2018).
Assessment methods and criteria
The final grade consists of the rating of the report on the practical work (20%) and the rating of the oral examination (80%). During the oral exam, the student is interviewed on the topic of the theoretical courses (two questions), and the assessment is based on the knowledge of theoretical concepts, their understanding, and their correct application.
Work placement(s)
Nil
Organizational remarks
The two lectures on the direct imaging techniques will be given by Dr. Olivier Absil (VORTEX Research Group, STAR Research Unit, ULiege).
Contacts
Dr. Michaël Gillon, EXOplanets in Transit: Identification and Characterization (EXOTIC) research group, ASTROBIOLOGY Research Unit, ULiege
Institut d'Astrophysique et de Géophysique, Bât B5C, Allée du 6 août, 19, 4000 Liège (Sart-Tilman), office -1/1
Phone: +32-(0)4 366 9743
E-mail : michael.gillon@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session
Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning
During the COVID-19 lockdown, the lectures will be given remotely with the software Zoom (ID: 608-122-211, password communicated to the students by email).
Assessment subjects
The matter to learn for the exam is the one enclosed in red in the slides shown during the lectures (live or remote).
Assessment methods
The oral exam - which accounts for 80% of the course points - will be given via Zoom. It will consist of two questions drawn at random by the examiner and to which the student will have to answer in no more than 15 minutes, without preparation and staring at the camera on his computer.
The 20% of the remaining points will come from the TP report which must be returned by June 15.
Contacts
michael.gillon@uliege.be
For lectures about direct imagery: olivier.absil@uliege.be
For practical work: educrot@uliege.be and/or fjpozuelos@uliege.be
Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session
Assessment subjects
The matter to learn for the exam is the one enclosed in red in the slides shown during the lectures (live or remote).
Assessment methods
The oral exam - which accounts for 80% of the course points - will be given via Zoom. It will consist of two questions drawn at random by the examiner and to which the student will have to answer in no more than 15 minutes, without preparation, and staring at his/her webcam the whole time.
The 20% of the remaining points will come from the TP report which had to be returned by June 15.
Contacts
michael.gillon@uliege.be
For lectures about direct imagery: olivier.absil@uliege.be
For practical work: educrot@uliege.be and/or fjpozuelos@uliege.be
Items online
Powerpoint presentations:
This URL links to the presentations of the previous year. Each presentation is replaced by its updated version after each lesson.