The school is co-organised by the European Commission HORIZON 2020 project EUROPLANET 2020 Research Infrastructure and Erasmus+ project European Astrobiology Campus.
The aim of the course is to give participants a thorough multidisciplinary introduction into the field of exoplanets, their detection, types, characterization, and the possibility of life on exoplanets. In addition, more general planetary subjects like formation of planetary systems, habitability of planets, and physical processes in planetary atmospheres will be covered. To give participants some hands-on experience with detection of exoplanets, observations of several exoplanet transits using the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory telescopes will be carried out. The course is open to PhD and master students, early career scientists, and amateur astronomers.
Activities of professional astronomers and amateur astronomers will be merged in order to achieve
more understanding between groups. The level of the school is orientated to PhD students and early career scientists, however amateur astronomers will be provided with the additional scientific support during lectures and observations.
The programme includes:
- Lectures by internationally leading scientists covering a broad range planetology and astrobiology
- Observations of exoplanet and binary star transits as well as other interesting astronomical objects with the 1.65 m and broad field 51 cm telescope at the Molėtai Observatory and remotely with the Stellar Observations Network Group (SONG) telescope.
- Two Poster sessions.
- Participant-led discussions about forefront-topics.
