Lights, Coronagraph, Action! An Exoplanet Direct Imaging Demo

In this demonstration, participants will learn about the direct imaging method astronomers use to find exoplanets — planets outside our solar system. Using a trifold display board and a lamp, participants will observe a conceptual demonstration of a coronagraph, a device used to block out a star’s glare and reveal exoplanets. Participants will learn:

• Exoplanets are planets outside our solar system.
• Exoplanets are faint, far away, and obscured by their host stars' light, which makes capturing direct images of exoplanets challenging.
• Some exoplanet systems have been imaged directly using telescopes equipped with coronagraphs to block the host star's light to show the exoplanet.

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