Episode Information

From Embryo to Earth
Where We Live - with John Dankosky
Aired:
04/02/2008

In this episode:

Astronomers have observed the initial phase in the formation of an earth-like planet

 

Host:
John Dankosky
Guest(s):
Contributor(s):
Catie Talarski
Episode Audio

43:59 minutes (21.12 MB)
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Dr. William Herbst, Professor of Astronomy at Wesleyan University: Photo by Dereck LartaudDr. William Herbst, Professor of Astronomy at Wesleyan University: Photo by Dereck Lartaud Astronomers have been watching the beginnings of an earth-like planet near a distant star. So, what can this tell us about our own beginnings?
Wesleyan University astronomer William Herbst is leading the team of astronomers watching how tiny particles are beginning to come together around a binary star called KH 15D. This so-called "winking star" is about 25 thousand light years away - but the composition of this planetary mass has scientists excited.

Today, where we live, Bill Herbst will join us to talk about this discovery and what it means to studying our own history. And, we'll talk with Geologist Mark McMenamin about the many stages in the formation of a planet like earth.

See a Flash animation of Herbst's team observed here.

For a complete gallery of pictures from today’s show, visit WNPR Images on Flickr.com.

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Links for this Episode:
Wesleyan University Astronomy Department