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“Astrometry with the Hubble Space Telescope - Parallaxes and Exoplanets” Dr. Fritz Benedict University of Texas, Austin |
| Astrometry has been described as a game in which one figures out how the universe works by watching tiny lights move across the sky. I describe some recent astrometric results from our work with the Fine Guidance Sensors aboard Hubble Space Telescope. These white-light interferometers have allowed us to re-establish the Galactic Cepheid Period-Luminosity relation as a precise and accurate rung on the cosmic distance scale ladder, establish the actual masses of several extrasolar planets, and establish the degree of coplanarity in an extrasolar planetary system. Because we remain a long way from figuring out how the universe works, I close with a look to the future of space-based astrometry, GAIA (Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics) and SIM (Space Interferometry Mission). Both offer substantial improvements. |