Planetarium: Exoplanets: Discovering New Worlds

The modern hunt for exoplanets is an adventure that began in the 20th century. It continues today as astronomers use both ground- and space-based observatories to find planets around other stars. Ultimately, this great age of discovery could lead to the detection of life beyond our solar system. This show tells the story of our search for alien worlds.

We know life arose on Earth, but where else could it exist? Worlds in our solar system provide tantalizing clues. We look to Mercury, Venus, Mars and the outer planets in a search for habitable environments.

What about moons? Jupiter’s moon, Io, is volcanic and not hospitable, but tiny Europa may harbor life deep beneath its icy crust. Saturn’s moon, Titan, has an atmosphere and organic materials, and Enceladus has hidden oceans. Could they support life? What these worlds reveal could help in the search for life beyond the solar system.

No extraterrestrial life has been found anywhere else — yet. The possibility of finding life drives our extrasolar planet searches. What if that life is intelligent? Has it tried to contact us?

“Exoplanets: Discovering New Worlds” speculates on the existence of such life and points out nearby civilizations that may already know about us — from our radio and TV broadcast signals. Someday, we may find those societies and marvel at their technological achievements.

**Purchase of this show was funded through ASU’s Hispanic Serving Institution-Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (HSI-STEM) grant from the U.S. Department of Education.**