Through the Atmosphere: Imaging Planets Beyond our Solar System

with Kaitlyn Hessel, University of Victoria

NGC 8799, A system with four exoplanets imaged at the W M Keck Observatory

Directly imaging planets around other stars is one of the most challenging goals in modern astronomy. These planets, known as exoplanets, are incredibly faint objects orbiting extremely bright stars at distances almost too far to fathom. In this talk, I’ll explain how we can overcome these challenges using both ground-based and space-based telescopes and how we can use these techniques to learn more about other worlds. I will introduce technologies being tested and developed at NRC’s Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre and outline how we use these instruments to reveal planets that would otherwise remain invisible. During the talk we’ll look at how post-processing and on-sky imaging techniques allow us to turn raw, messy telescope data into meaningful scientific insights about distant planets.

Kaitlyn Hessel is a second-year master’s student working with Christian Marois at the University of Victoria and NRC’s Herzberg Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Centre. Her research focuses on exoplanet direct imaging, with an emphasis on developing pipelines for image post-processing, orbit modeling, and data‑driven techniques for improving image reconstruction. With her team, Kaitlyn works on an instrument called SPIDERS that was built and designed by fellow scientists at NRC-HAA that currently operates inside the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. When she’s not working, Kaitlyn loves exploring Vancouver Island’s trails and coastlines, reading a good book with a warm cup of tea, crocheting something cozy, or cheering on her favourite hockey team. She also loves travelling and spending time with friends and family.