Many distant stars have been found to have planets (exoplanets) orbiting them. We will discuss some of the methods astronomers use to find exoplanets and how the James Webb Space Telescope was used to find an “earth-like“ exoplanet orbiting a star some 41 light years away. We will also describe how exoplanet atmospheres may indicate evidence of life on them and discuss some theories of the formation of the planets in our solar system, comparing our solar system to the star systems of the exoplanets that have been discovered.

Moderator: Jim Rauf, retired manager and principal engineer in the Commercial Engines Product Support Group of GE Aviation, is degreed in physics and mechanical engineering.