The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know

By: The Great Courses, Joshua N. Winn

Narrated by: Professor Joshua N. Winn

As recently as 1990, it seemed plausible that the solar system was a unique phenomenon in our galaxy. Thanks to advances in technology and clever new uses of existing data, now we know that planetary systems and possibly even a new Earth can be found throughout galaxies near and far.

We are living during a new golden age of planetary discovery, with the prospect of finding many worlds like Earth. Most of the thousands of planets we've detected can't be imaged directly, but researchers are able to use subtle clues obtained in ingenious ways to assemble an astonishing picture of planetary systems far different from our own. We are in the midst of an astronomical revolution, comparable to the Copernican revolution that established our current view of the solar system - and we invite you to take part.

Embark on this unrivaled adventure in 24 lectures by a veteran planet hunter. Designed for everyone from armchair explorers to serious skywatchers, The Search for Exoplanets follows the numerous twists and turns in the hunt for exoplanets - the false starts, the sudden breakthroughs, and the extraordinary discoveries. Explore systems containing super-Earths, mini-Neptunes, lava worlds, and even stranger worlds. You also get behind-the-scenes information on the techniques astronomers used to find evidence of planets at mind-boggling distances from our home base. Learn how astronomers determine how many planets are in a system as well as how large they are and the characteristics of their atmospheres. You will feel like Dr. Watson in the presence of Sherlock Holmes as Professor Winn extracts a wealth of information from a spectrum, a light graph, a diffraction pattern, and other subtle clues.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2015 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2015 The Great Courses

Fantastic lecture!

Probablythe best astronomical lecture I've heard as of yet! The professor that has narrated this lecturer doesn't 'dumb it down' for any such non science professionals such as myself. Can't wait to hear an updated version of this lecture in about 2025!

Loved it!

As a amateur astronomer and exoplanet fan, I absolutely loved it. It is fun to listen to, and dr Winn is very winning!

Fascinating!

If you 1) love looking at the night sky, 2) love wondering what or who is out there, and 3) take interest in technical details at least of middle-level sophistication (for example, there are five different methods of planet-hunting, each treated in detail and involving their own brief physics lessons), I would recommend this listen for sure! The professor is very well-spoken and genial. And the subject matter is treated with an eye to the future — no arrogance at all in assuming that what's known today is anything close to what we'll know some day. It's the past, present and future of the exoplanet search. One note: if you are interested especially in the search for intelligent life, you may be left wanting more. The bulk of the course is the nuts and bolts of exoplanetary science, and it so happens that many planets found are not thought to be life candidates. But all the background knowledge will help you appreciate why it's so challenging to find life candidates. Our technological challenges so far have actually seemed biased against detecting such planets. I think it's a fascinating story, well-told.

Very cool

just finished the book as the "nearby" (cosmically speaking, 40LY) seven Planet system around a red dwarf.

Excellent and informative

One of the best Great Courses I've listened to. Extremely informative. The Professor really knows his stuff and explains everything well. It would have been easy to make this course go over the head of readers but it didn't. Also his passion for this subject really shines through.

exoplanets and their search laid out perfectly

very informative. captivating. easy to understand and entertaining. the lecturer is very knowledgeable and maintains your attention throughout the course.

Spectacular

One of the best non-fiction reads ever! You simply can't go wrong with this one.

Worth Every Minute...

Where does The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of my favorite audio books since joining Audible. There is a lot to absorb for the casual listener, but even if you are not an astrophysicist, you can certainly follow along.

Who was your favorite character and why?

"My favorite character" would be an atypical question for such a book so the answer is unsurprisingly atypical as well. The best characters are the planets that have been found and are on display throughout the chapters.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Professor Winn takes the reader through a very measured and somewhat slow pace through the content of each chapter. This works out very well as it gives the listener, especially those unfamiliar with frequently cited physics topics, a chance to think through and visualize the concepts. It just works.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

"Moved" might be a strong word for something this academic, but there were definitely several "wow" moments where the ingenuity of the scientists really struck me. We truly live in a remarkable age where our ability to understand and leverage the physical laws of nature is becoming more and more notable.

Any additional comments?

This audio book presents a methodical review of the techniques, the history behind exoplanet detection and some of the major finds that have occurred in the last couple of decades. It also manages to do so in a very engaging way for those who are interested in the science behind the headlines.

Very good! you will learn a lot

This is a great book for anyone wanting to understand what are exoplanets, where are they, how do we find them and where is that research going to take us.

Fascinating and well narrated

Recommended for astrogeeks (like me) who want a coherent deep dive into exoplanets. Well narrated