Exoplanethost stars and star-disk-planet connections

To date, more than 6,000 planets have been discovered outside our Solar System. The systems in which these distant planets are found differ greatly from our own Solar System in terms of both the properties of their host stars and their planets. At Tõravere, we study these systems through observations as well as by modelling their planets and stars.

For students we teach how to carry out observations with a professional telescope. If observations or working at night is not your cup of tea, we also investigate what stellar and planetary atmospheres look like using various computer programs and by comparing models with real observations.

We specialise in studying the hottest host stars and their planetary systems. We are members of the Ariel space mission consortium, and our main task is to characterise host stars hotter than the Sun whose planets will be observed by the Ariel telescope in the future. To do this, we determine the parameters and chemical composition of the host stars to identify relationships between stars and their planets. This provides us with information about planet formation.

Ariel space mission

Ariel is a space telescope that will be launched into space in 2029 to study exoplanets and their properties.

Characterisation of exoplanet host stars (Finished project)

The characterisation of the stars that host planets or planet-forming discs is crucial to the detection and in-depth study of extrasolar planets, and understanding of the planet formation processes. The EXOHOST Twinning project will strengthen Tartu Observatory expertise in modern research and management practices, stellar spectroscopic methods and tools, exoplanets, and planet formation.