The Discovery of the First Exoplanet Orbiting a Solar-Type Star

Didier Queloz,Mejd Alsari

doi:10.32386/scivpro.000017

Abstract

Didier Queloz is Professor of Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory (University of Cambridge) and Geneva University. He was jointly awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for “the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star”. In the first part of his conversation with Mejd Alsari he discusses the impact of his 1995 discovery on the theory of planetary systems formation.

Highlights

Didier Queloz is Professor of Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory (University of Cambridge) and Geneva University
This discovery started a revolution in astronomy and in 2019 you shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with Michel Mayor for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star
We really want to know more about the atmosphere of these planets as we’ve been doing in the Solar System when we studied the atmosphere of the giant planets

Summary

Introduction

Didier Queloz is Professor of Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory (University of Cambridge) and Geneva University. In 1995 you dramatically changed the view we had about planet formation in the Universe with the discovery of the first giant planet outside our solar system. We identified the first planet orbiting another star other than the Sun. That was a key discovery.

Results

Conclusion