Astronomy Colloquium

Moons and rings are ubiquitous in our own solar system, so it is natural to expect they should also be present for many exoplanets. Their occurrence is not just a curiosity. Moons can play a crucial role in determining the habitability of an exoplanet and may even be a site for life themselves. Furthermore, the properties of moons can provide crucial constraints on the structure and formation mechanisms of exoplanets. In this talk, I will present our ongoing theoretical work on how we may detect exomoons and exorings in the future, how they can be used as probes of exoplanets once discovered, and explore the possibility that some super-puffs (planets with densities rivaling that of cotton candy) are actually ringed planets.

To view this talk on YouTube, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb1880Rn0qkKFkWyROUq1kRlgCsuBTrnd