Lab Origin and evolution of planetary systems

Is our Solar System special, or is it common in the Universe?

Starting from this question, we will explore how planetary systems form and evolve, and find out whether our Solar System is similar to or different from the countless systems found throughout our Galaxy.

We will show how astronomers discover planets orbiting distant stars — exoplanets — and introduce the tools and techniques used to investigate their properties. Through images, examples and simple analogies, we will see how planets that cannot be observed directly can still be detected, and how astronomers can learn about their size, orbits and physical conditions.

We will also focus on the ALMA interferometer, one of the most powerful instruments for studying the regions where stars and planets are born. We will discover how a network of antennas working together allows astronomers to observe in remarkable detail the gas and dust within protoplanetary disks — the true “construction sites” where new worlds take shape.

Through simulations, drawings, models and interactive activities, participants will have the opportunity to try out some of the methods used by astronomers and discover, in a simple and engaging way, how the history of a planetary system can be reconstructed: from the initial cloud of gas and dust to the formation of a star and its planets, and their subsequent evolution over time.

Suitable for all ages.