Exo-Planet Task Force (ExoPTF)

1
Exo-Planet Task Force (ExoPTF)

• Jonathan Lunine (LPL)
• Stephen Ridgway (NASA)

2
Astronomy and Astrophysics Decade Review2008 -
2010
AAAC ExoPlanet Task Force2007
3
The ExoPTF Website

• The ExoPTF website will be active no later than
  Friday, February 9.
• www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/exoptf.jsp

4
The ExoPTF Charge

• This letter is to request that the Astronomy and
  Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) establish
  an Exo-Planet Task Force (ExoPTF) as a
  subcommittee to advise NSF and NASA on the future
  of the ground-based and space-based search for
  and study of exo-planets, planetary systems,
  Earth-like planets and habitable environments
  around other stars.

5
The ExoPTF Charge

• The ExoPTF is asked to recommend a 15-year
  strategy to detect and characterize exo-planets
  and planetary systems, and their formation and
  evolution, including specifically the
  identification of nearby candidate Earth-like
  planets and study of their habitability. The
  strategy may include planning and preparation for
  facilities and missions beyond the 15-year
  horizon.

6
The ExoPTF Charge

• The key scientific questions and issues, in the
  context of recent developments in exo-planet
  science and planet formation
• Measurement techniques, their enabling
  technologies and their implications for future
  survey and measurement directions and priorities
• Specific types of experiments (e.g., radial
  velocity measurements, transit searches,
  microlensing, adaptive optics, coronagraphy) with
  respect to their expected scientific return and
  contributions
• The potential and complementary science return
  from measurements at different wavelengths
• The role of theoretical investigations in
  defining needed capabilities, constraining
  measurement requirements, and interpreting
  results in terms of the overarching scientific
  questions
• Major decision points in the exo-planet study
  process
• Identification of key technologies relevant to
  the scientific goals of the program
• Important steps in the development of
  instrumentation, RD, and other work required in
  preparation for or in support of, these and
  related experiments and missions
• The complementary ground-based and space-based
  research opportunities, coordination between
  funding agencies and possible synergistic
  advances
• Opportunities for cooperation, coordination or
  synergy with international programs.

7
ExoPTF Confirmed Membership
Debra Fischer SFSU
Heidi Hammel Space Science Institute
Lynne Hillenbrand Caltech
Jim Kasting Penn State
Greg Laughlin UCSC
Jonathan Lunine (chair) Lunar Planetary Lab
Bruce Macintosh LLNL
Mark Marley NASA Ames
Gary Melnick CFA
David Monet USNO
Charley Noecker Ball Aerospace
Stanton Peale UCSB
Andreas Quirrenbach U Heidelberg
Sara Seager MIT
Josh Winn MIT
8
Target Schedule(all dates in 2007)

• February 20-21 - meet with agencies, organization
  strategy, invited briefings
• April - invited briefings, white papers, report
  outline
• May - invited briefings, white papers, writing
  assignments
• May -gt Sept - recommendations and writing, expect
  2 additional meetings
• October - deliver report to AAAC

9
First Meeting Objectives

• Discussion of charge with agencies and AAAC chair
• Prepare call for white papers
• Invited briefings (5)
• Physics and signatures of giant and terrestrial
  planets
• Ground and space-based detection techniques
• Lay out scope of the report, writing groups,
  roadmap to completion

10
White Paper Heads-Up via AAS Email Exploder

• CALL FOR EXOPLANET WHITE PAPERS
• The ExoPlanet Task Force (ExoPTF), an Astronomy
  and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC)
  subcommittee formed at the request of NSF and
  NASA, is expected to announce a call for white
  papers to inform their assessment of techniques
  and approaches for extra-solar planet detection
  and characterization, using both space and
  ground-based facilities. The ExoPTF is asked to
  recommend a 15-year strategy to detect and
  characterize exo-planets and planetary systems,
  and their formation and evolution, including
  specifically the identification of nearby
  candidate Earth-like planets and study of their
  habitability. The anticipated white paper
  solicitation deadline is 2 April 2007.
• The ExoPTF charge and membership, as well as
  future documentation including the white paper
  solicitation, can be found at
• http//www.nsf.gov/mps/ast/exoptf.jsp