Extrasolar planets are planets found outside our solar system. These are much fainter than the stars they orbit, and it has only been in the past 30 years that they have been observed. In the last decade the number of exoplanets discovered has increased dramatically with new techniques and there are now more than 4,000 exoplanets confirmed.

At Steward our exoplanet and planetary science projects explore the frequency and properties of the planet population around other stars. We are developing and using high-contrast imaging techniques to discover and study new exoplanets, extreme precision velocity measurements to measure their masses, and  exoplanetary transits for detailed atmospheric composition studies. To reach the sensitivity to search for biosignatures, we are developing telescope arrays with the potential for affordable apertures larger than ELTs. We carry out observations of our own solar system, including surveys to understand the demographics of asteroids and other faint solar system objects.