Science Utah Lecture Series: Hidden in the Heavens

How Kepler changed our view of planetary systems

NASA created the Kepler mission to estimate how many Earth-like planets with Earth-like orbits exist in the galaxy. In only four years, the spacecraft identified thousands of planets—many unlike anything in our solar system—and forced scientists to reconsider how planetary systems form and evolve. This lecture traces the mission’s history, shares an insider’s perspective on the science team, and examines the discoveries Kepler made possible.

Speaker Jason Steffen is an associate professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research focuses on the properties, formation, and dynamics of planets and planetary systems. A longtime Kepler science-team member, he helped discover and characterize thousands of planets and planetary systems. He previously held research roles at Northwestern University and Fermilab and wrote Hidden in the Heavens. Steffen earned graduate physics degrees from the University of Washington and bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physics from Weber State University.

Free advance registration is required. The IMAX Theatre is wheelchair accessible; the program is not designated sensory-friendly and does not provide ASL or Spanish interpretation.