Alix Freckelton (University of Birmingham): Understanding Stars in the Search for Earth-like Worlds

Thursday 26 Mar 2026, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/Stockholm

Å80109

Title: Understanding Stars in the Search for Earth-like Worlds
Speaker: Alix Freckelton
Affiliation: University of Birmingham
Room: Å80109
Time: 14:00-15:00

Abstract: The precision with which we understand a star directly impacts the discovery and characterisation of its orbiting planets. Any uncertainties in stellar properties propagate directly to the planetary and orbital parameters, setting inherent limits to exoplanet demographic studies. In this seminar, I will discuss how precise characterisation of a star underpins the discovery and understanding of small exoplanets. I will lay out different methods for stellar analysis, and show how improving our knowledge of a star strengthens multiple planetary detection and characterisation methods. There will be particular attention on active stars, for which starspots and other activity mechanisms can mimic or obscure planetary signals. In improving our understanding of solar-like stars, we move closer to the reliable detection of a true Earth twin.