TITLE: Small Stars with Small Planets and Big Consequences

ABSTRACT: M dwarf stars dominate stellar populations, and recent results from NASA's Kepler Mission suggest rocky planets are abundant around M dwarf stars. With so many planets orbiting M dwarfs, exoplanet scientists can now turn to questions about their history, evolution and potential habitability. Unfortunately, measuring fundamental properties of M dwarfs is challenging for a variety of reasons. I will discuss the importance of near-infrared spectroscopy in this effort, presenting recent results from our programs at Keck Observatory, Palomar Observatory and the Discovery Channel Telescope. With near-infrared, high-resolution spectroscopy covering Y to K band, we can measure detailed fundamental properties of low-mass stars and their orbiting exoplanets. M dwarf characterization will be especially important in the coming years, when the TESS spacecraft is expected to discover five times as many planets orbiting low-mass stars as Kepler.

Please note: Should you require any reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access and opportunity related to this event please contact Stacy Tiburzi at 734-764-3440 or stibu@umich.edu.