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Course Overview

Students will learn about the current state-of-the-art of Extremely Precise Radial Velocity (EPRV) exoplanet surveys, including observational and data analysis techniques for detecting and characterizing extrasolar planetary systems.

Course Goals

Successful students in the class will:

  • Understand how extremely precise radial velocity (EPRV) surveys detect and characterize extrasolar planetary systems,

  • Identify areas where the current state-of-the-art falls short of what is needed to detect and characterize Earth-analogs, and

  • Increase their skills for digesting journal articles and communicating advanced scientific concepts.

Learning Objectives

Successful students in the class will:

  • Describe how EPRV surveys detect and characterize extrasolar planetary systems.

  • Explain the effects of exoplanets, astrophysical variability, and instrumental effects on EPRV observations.

  • Compare characteristics of EPRV exoplanet surveys being conducted by Penn State researchers and to those of other current/upcoming EPRV surveys.

  • Critically evaluate the quality of exoplanet detections and mass and orbit measurements.

  • Plan and lead effective in-class discussion(s) of topics relevant to EPRV surveys.