+ NASA Homepage + NASA en Español QUICK FACTS IMAGE GALLERY OVERVIEW What is SIM? The Mission Stellar Distances Images/Presentations Current Mission Status Other Planet-Finding       Missions   Science Highlights Searching for New       Worlds Mapping the Milky Way Black Holes & Dark       Matter How Big Are Stars?   SIM Team Science Team JPL Management Northrop Grumman Michelson Science       Center   Interferometry Albert Michelson Window to the Universe Virtual Interferometer Experiments to Try       at Home   Contact Information Press/Media Web Feedback Ask a Question IN DEPTH Science Goals Summary Planet Detection Stellar Astrophysics Galactic Astrophysics Extragalactic Astronomy Reference Frames Astrometric Grid Synthesis Imaging   Technology Goals   Flight Segment Interactive SIM Model SIM FOR SCIENTISTS Who & What Science Team Science Investigations   SIM Newsletter   Technical Resources SIM Tech Expo Posters Research Opportunities Bibliography SIM PlanetQuest       Whitepaper Library (restricted)   Research Opportunities AO for SIM Key Projects General Observer       Proposals Previous Proposal       Calls Fellowships Navigator Program KEY SCIENCE PROJECTS   Discovery of Planetary Systems A search for new planets around nearby stars, which also will study the stars where scientists currently think planets have been found. Dr. Geoffrey W. Marcy University of California, Berkeley http://astron.berkeley.edu/~gmarcy/ Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF)      Catalog of Nearby Exoplanets Extrasolar Planets Interferometric Survey A search for planets using a large sample of stars. This study addresses one of SIM's primary science goals: taking a census of planetary systems around nearby stars. Dr. Michael Shao JPL (Science Team Chair)   Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) The Search for Young Planetary Systems and the Evolution of Young Stars A study of the early stages of the formation of planetary systems around young stars that will provide new insight into how planets like Earth might have formed. Dr. Charles A. Beichman California Institute of Technology http://spider.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/chas/ Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Stellar, Remnant, Planetary, and Dark-Object Masses from Astrometric Micro-lensing A novel technique of micro-lensing will be used to make exceptionally precise measurements of the masses of stars and a variety of other astronomical sources. Micro-lensing involves changes to a star's appearance that occur due to gravity from a nearby object. Dr. Andrew P. Gould Ohio State University, Columbus Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Dynamical Observations of Galaxies By determining the precise distances and motion of nearby galaxies, this scientific program will study the formation of the local group of galaxies. Dr. Edward J. Shaya University of Maryland http://www.astro.umd.edu/people/eshaya.html Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Astrophysics of Reference Frame Tie Objects This program will obtain the data required to determine the motion of the Milky Way relative to extremely distant extra-galactic sources. Dr. Kenneth J. Johnston U.S. Naval Observatory   Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Anchoring the Population II Distances and Ages of Globular Clusters This program will make observations to determine the ages and distances of globular clusters which are needed to determine the age of the universe. Dr. Brian C. Chaboyer Dartmouth College Hanover, N.H. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chaboyer/ Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Determining the Mass-Luminosity Relation for Stars of Various Ages, Metallicities and Evolutionary States Determine to an accuracy of one percent the mass of 100 main sequence stars and a special sample of 100 additional field stars. The improved mass-luminosity relation derived from this work would impact many fields of astrophysics and could be one of the major accomplishments of the SIM mission. Dr. Todd J. Henry Georgia State University, Atlanta http://www.chara.gsu.edu/~thenry/ Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Taking the Measure of the Milky Way A study of the motion of stars in our galaxy to determine the forces that cause the motion to understand better the distribution of matter in the Milky Way. Dr. Steven R. Majewski University of Virginia, Charlottesville http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~srm4n/ Co-Investigators Key Project information at: http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~rjp0i/takingmeasure/index.shtml Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Binary Black Holes, Accretion Disks and Relativistic Jets: Photocenters of Nearby Active Galactic Nuclei and Quasars A study of possible motions and changes in active galactic nucleii and quasars. The data will provide new and unique insight into the physical processes in these sources. Dr. Ann E. Wehrle California Institute of Technology   Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) MISSION SCIENTISTS Education and Public Outreach Scientist Dr. Guy P. Worthey Washington State University Pullman, Washington   Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Data Scientist Dr. Andreas Quirrenbach Leiden University The Netherlands   Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Instrument Scientist Dr. Stuart Shaklan JPL   Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Interdisciplinary Scientist Dr. Shrinivas R. Kulkarni California Institute of Technology http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~srk/ Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Synthesis Imaging Scientist Dr. Ronald J. Allen Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, Md.   Co-Investigators Summary      Full proposal (PDF) Privacy/Copyright Site Map Feedback Glossary Podcasts Awards & Credits Curator: Randal Jackson Webmaster: Cecelia Lawshe

Extrasolar planets. Exo-planets. Searching for extrasolar planets. Searching for exo-planets. Earth-like planets in the Milky Way. Exoplanets and extra-solar planets, or exoplanets and extra-solar planets. Planets around others stars are called extrasolar planets. What is an extrasolar planet? Astronomy, or astronomy and finding planets.