01/18/02
SCHNEIDER Jean Observatoire de Paris
5 place Jules Janssen SF2A- ASHRA-
92195 Meudon, France
Presentation 1 : Invited
The French Groupe de Recherche en Exobiologie
Jean Schneider
The French "Groupe de Recherche en Exobiologie" is a national body, sponsored by CNES and CNRS, devoted to Exobiology. I will describe its activities, centered on the study of - Biodioversity on Earth as a reference and starting point for the study of Life in the Universe - Origins of Life on Earth as a template of primitive forms of Life - Organic Biochimestry in the Solar System and the interstellar medium - Life on extrasolar planets - Philosophical and historical aspects of exobiology It is part of the European Network on Exo/Astro/biology and is affiliated to the NASA Astrobiology Institute
Presentation 2 : Oral
Search for terrestrial extrasolar planets: visible versus infrared
Jean Schneider
I review the physical bases of the search for telluric extrasolar planets in two spectral ranges: the visible reflected light and the thermal emission in the infrared. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, including artefacts in the determination of planet physical parameters. I then give the status of the different projects and initiatives regarding the space-based detection of these planets: Darwin, Terrestrial Planet Finder and others.