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Astronomers are excited to study exoplanets–planets outside of our solar system–because they may support life. The most promising method of detecting and characterizing Earth-like planets is to observe them directly. But this technique, known as direct imaging, is extremely challenging, as planets easily get lost in the glare of their nearby stars. In fact, seeing a planet is roughly equivalent to observing a firefly next to a distant lighthouse! Drawing on his experiences as a researcher at the Keck and Magellan telescopes, Joshua Liberman will describe how astronomers use cutting-edge instruments to view distant planets.

Join us to learn how astronomers might locate Earth 2.0!

Bio: Joshua Liberman is a 2nd-year PhD student and Roger Angel Scholar at the University of Arizona’s Wyant College of Optical Sciences. Before starting his PhD, Liberman worked as a researcher at the California Institute of Technology where he assisted with the commissioning of the Keck Planet Imager and Characterizer instrument and developed techniques for improved starlight suppression. A Reading native, Liberman received a Bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from Colgate University in 2022.