The Milky Way and its Stars

Studies of Galactic and stellar structure are entering an era replete with data from large space- and ground-based projects. The combination of large photometric surveys carried out in the last 15 years, extensive photometric-variability databases allowing the inner structure of thousands of stars to be studied, and vast high-resolution spectroscopic surveys probing the detailed chemical composition of hundreds of thousands of stars, hold the promise of a new synthesis of stellar and Galactic astrophysics. These data will in a few years be complemented by precise astrometric measurements from Gaia.

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Towards Other Earths II. The Star-Planet Connection

The study of extrasolar planets is one of the most active areas of research of modern astronomy. The number of discoveries attests for the importance of a topic that reaches out and captivates the imagination of scientists and public alike.

The Cosmic Distance Scale

Understanding the distance scale has always been central to astronomy, and its determination has been a multi-pronged pursuit. More than two decades ago the distance scale was uncertain by a factor of two, and the resolution of this conundrum had been a major driver for HST. Today a wealth of new cosmological measurements from both the local and the high redshift Universe are reaching a precision of a few percent, with further improvements on the horizon. Better knowledge of the distance scale has profound impacts in areas ranging from stellar astrophysics to the cosmological model. We believe that now is an excellent time to discuss what has been learned and what we can expect to learn in the near future.

More info: The Cosmic Distance Scale

Second Kepler Science Conference

This conference will highlight the full range of scientific results emerging from more than three years of Kepler observations, as well as what to expect from continued observations.

Topics to be covered include:

• Exoplanet Statistics, False Positives, and Completeness Corrections
• Earth Analogues and Super-Earths
• Multiple Planets and Multiple Star Systems
• Planet Formation and Migration Theories
• Habitable Zone
• Characterizing Transiting Planets
• Stellar Activity, Rotation, Ages, Metallicity
• Eclipsing and Interacting Binaries
• Future Exoplanet Telescopes and Instrumentation
• Asteroseismology
• Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics