Space Research & Planetary Sciences (WP)

Titleimage: Space Research & Planetary Sciences (WP)

Our research programme concentrates on topics related to the history, origin and early evolution of planetary systems. By means of in situ measurements, remote sensing observations, laboratory analysis, and numerical modeling, we investigate our own solar system with its small bodies (comets and asteroids), its planets and their atmospheres as well as extra-solar planets to unravel the physical processes underlying the formation and evolution of these systems. These investigations also include the past and present interaction of the Sun with magnetospheres and atmospheres of Earth and other bodies like comets and moons.

Events

Science News

Science

«Die Sterne des Kleinen Prinzen»: Astronomie-Vermittlungsprojekt in Marokko

Vom 7. bis 17. November 2024 wird ein Team mit Forschenden sowie Wissenschaftsvermittlerinnen und -vermittlern des Center for Space and Habitability CSH der Universität Bern und der Semlalia Fakultät für Naturwissenschaften und des Oukaimeden-Observatoriums der Cadi-Ayyad-Universität in Marrakesch mit zwei Kleinflugzeugen in Marokko unterwegs sein.

Image: KI

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Science

Not all Hot Jupiters orbit solo

Hot Jupiters are giant planets initially known to orbit alone close to their star. During their migration towards their star, these planets were thought to accrete or eject any other planets present. However, this paradigm has been overturned by recent observations.

Illustration: Thibaut Roger

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Science

Researchers from the University of Bern involved in NASA mission

NASA's Europa Clipper was launched on October 14, 2024, on its mission to conduct a detailed study of Jupiter's moon Europa. It will determine if the icy moon currently has habitable conditions. Four researchers from the University of Bern are members of the scientific teams for the mission cameras, the Europa Imaging System (EIS), and the mass spectrometer MASPEX on board the spacecraft.

Image: © NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Science

A sub-Earth detected around our neighbouring star Barnard

A team of scientists including researchers from the University of Bern, the University of Geneva and the NCCR PlanetS used the ESPRESSO Spectrograph to discover a sub-Earth mass exoplanet orbiting Barnard's star, the second-closest star system to the Sun. This discovery helps to understand planetary formation around red dwarfs and provides insights into the diversity of planetary systems in our cosmic neighbourhood.

Image © ESO/M. Kornmesser

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