May 9, 2012 - Clearing Up the Dust: Understanding the Role of Debris Discs in Planetary Systems - Dr. Mark Booth

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May 9, 2012 - Clearing Up the Dust: Understanding the Role of Debris Discs in Planetary Systems - Dr. Mark Booth, a CSA postdoctoral working at the University of Victoria / Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics

The number of planets discovered around other stars is now close to 1000, but there is more to planetary systems than the planets. As in the Solar System, other planetary systems also contain asteroids and comets.  Collisions and sublimation of these planetesimals produces vast  quantities of dust and this is known as the debris disc. This dust can be seen through reflection of starlight and thermal emission. I will discuss the history of these observations, some of the latest results and what the future holds in store.

Presentation - 3.1Mb pdf, lacks the two simulations presented

Video conversion of presentation - link to our video hosting service; includes the two simulations presented

Bio:
Mark studied for his PhD at the University of Cambridge in the UK where he worked on theoretical modelling of asteroid and comet belts around other stars. He moved to Victoria in September 2010 to apply his modelling skills to recently acquired images from the Herschel Space Observatory.

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