• Physics and Astronomy Colloquium

October 17, 2025 3:30 PM - October 17, 2025 4:30 PM
PAIS 1100

Host:

Richard Rand

Presenter:

Diana Dragomir

Video Recording

Current observations overwhelmingly indicate that, in the innermost regions of planetary systems, exoplanets smaller than Neptune are at least an order of magnitude more common than gas giant exoplanets. Most of these exoplanets exist in orbits smaller even than that of Mercury, the planet closest to our own Sun. At larger orbital separations comparable to those of the Solar System planets, the picture is less clear because our main detection methods are biased against wide orbits. I will present the multi-pronged approach the UNM exoplanet group has taken to fill this gap, and the surprising discoveries we made along the way. From giant exoplanets in highly eccentric orbits to unexpected planetary system architectures, I will highlight the diversity of planetary systems around stars other than our Sun. I will conclude with a preview of our group’s new research directions, which promise to cut across this wide range of outcomes in order to identify common trends in planet formation processes throughout the entire galaxy.