Polarized Exos and the Chile Chill - Episode 17 of Astronomy: Secrets of the Universe Revealed

Polarized Exos and the Chile Chill - Episode 17 of Astronomy: Secrets of the Universe Revealed

Segment 1: A Polarized View of Exoplanets [8:02]

Astronomers know that planets around other stars beyond the Solar System are common. But these planets are very hard to see and even harder to study. Fortunately, there is a clever trick that helps to separate the feeble glow of a planet from the dazzling glare of its parent star: exploiting the polarisation of the light reflected from the planet.

In this episode of the ESOcast we'll talk about this very special feature of light and how we can use it to detect planets around other stars.

Credit: ESO. Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser and Luis Calçada. Editing: Herbert Zodet. Web and technical support: Mathias André and Raquel Yumi Shida. Written by: Georgia Bladon, Richard Hook, Nicola Guttridge, Christoph Keller, Frans Snik, Daphne Stam and Herbert Zodet. Presented by: Joe Liske (Dr. J). Narration: Sara Mendes da Costa. Music: Toomas Erm.

Segment 2: Chile Chill 4 - Images taken by the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope [8:03]

This ESOcast explores the wealth of stunning astronomical images produced over a period of almost 30 years by the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile.

Segment 3: Chile Chill 5 - Impressions from La Silla [7:20]

In this episode of Chile Chill we take a closer look at the telescopes and instruments of ESO's first observatory at La Silla in northern Chile.

Credit: ESO. Editing: Herbert Zodet. Web and technical support: Mathias André and Raquel Yumi Shida. Written by: Phillip Keane.

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