Astronomers will discuss innovative techniques used to discover thousands of planets orbiting distant stars during a lecture on March 14, 2026, at the Old Observatory in Leiden.
The lecture, titled “Shadows, Wobbles, and Hisses: How we find planets around other stars,” will be presented by Dr. Joe Callingham of ASTRON and the University of Amsterdam. The event is part of the Kaiser Spring Lectures series, which focuses this year on the search for a second Earth. The ability to detect planets outside our solar system represents a significant leap in our understanding of the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Callingham’s presentation will detail the methods astronomers employ to identify exoplanets – planets too far away to be directly photographed. These techniques involve measuring subtle changes in a star’s light and motion, revealing the presence of orbiting planets through phenomena like transits and gravitational tugs. The lecture will also explore what these discoveries reveal about the diversity of planetary systems and the possibility of finding another Earth-like planet.
The Kaiser Spring Lectures series includes five lectures by astronomers, all centered around the theme One in a Million? Looking for a second Earth. More information about the series can be found here.
The lecture will grab place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Old Observatory Leiden, located at Sterrewachtlaan 11, 2311 GW Leiden. Tickets cost €5.80, with an optional tour of the Old Observatory available for an additional €1.00. More information and tickets are available through Ticketkantoor.
Dr. Callingham’s expertise lies in studying stars and exoplanets in the radio spectrum. The lecture will be delivered in English.
