ARIEL and ALIEN Worlds: Enabling planetary science across light-years

Join us this February half-term for a fascinating, family-friendly and FREE scientific talk by Dr Chris Pearson, followed by fun hands-on space activities.

Date: Friday 21 February 2025

Time: Talk at 13:30, Activities until 16:00

Less than 35 years ago, the only planets known to exist were those found within our own Solar System. From the first confirmed discovery in 1992 of a pair of exotic planets orbiting around a dead star, the field of exoplanetary science (an exoplanet is a planet orbiting around another star) has undergone nothing short of a revolution.

Currently we stand at a staggering 6,000 confirmed discoveries of planets outside our Solar System. We are at the dawn of a new age in exoplanet research with the Ariel mission due for launch in 2029, becoming the leading space mission unveiling what the atmospheres of these exoplanets are made of.

Following Dr Pearson’s fantastic talk, we’ll move over to the RAL Visitor Centre for a whole range of hands-on activities – from making your own comet to handling real meteorites!

Tickets will be released at 19:30 on Friday 10 January.

Tickets for in-person events close the night before the event. If you would like to book an in-person last-minute place, please email us at visitral@stfc.ac.uk