Physics and Astronomy Colloquium
The Companions of stars across the mass ratio spectrum
Presented by Kaitlin Kratter Associate Professor at Steward Observatory
Stars in our galaxy, and likely the whole Universe, rarely reside alone. They are orbited by planets, other stars, and sometimes both. In this talk I will begin with a census of the varieties and importance of stellar companionship in astronomy. These pairs impact nearly everything we study, from cosmology to planetary habitability. I will then illustrate how recent large surveys have helped us improve theoretical models of star and planet formation. I will also emphasize the unique lessons we can learn from the companions that occupy the "in between:" not quite stars, and not quite planets.
3:30 pm, Friday, October 2, 2020
Zoom,
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A schedule of talks within the Department of Physics and Astronomy is available on the P&A web site at http://physics.unm.edu/pandaweb/events/index.php