Experts on discovery of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting dwarf star

Two planetary scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder are available to speak about new findings announced today by an international team of astronomers led by the University of Liege in Belgium of seven newly discovered, Earth-sized planets orbiting a dwarf star some 235 trillion miles from Earth.

Assistant Professor Zachory Berta-Thompson of the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, whose research involves hunting for new planets transiting nearby stars, can talk about the new discoveries and the next steps in learning more about the atmospheres of the planets. Berta-Thompson can be reached by email at zach.bertathompson@colorado.edu or by phone at 303-735-6821.

Professor Larry Esposito of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics has been involved in a number of NASA planetary missions and currently is the principal investigator on a $12-million CU Boulder-built ultraviolet imaging spectrograph (UVIS) currently riding on NASA’s Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn. Esposito can talk about his view of the new discoveries and be reached by email at larry.esposito@colorado.edu or by phone at 303-492-5990.

CU Boulder also controls NASA’s planet-hunting Kepler satellite from campus. To date scientists using Kepler have discovered more than 4,000 potentially new planets outside of our solar system.

For assistance setting up interviews or for other space-related story tips, please contact Jim Scott at jim.scott@colorado.edu or 303-492-3114.