#sagan2024
Direct imaging and spectroscopy has become a standard tool for studying the atmospheres and orbits of young, self-luminous giant planets in wide orbits. Advances in starlight suppression and spectroscopy technologies and techniques have gradually improved sensitivity to lower-mass and closer-in young planets. Going forward, ground- and space-based observatories will have complementary roles to play in the study of mature planetary systems, whether the search for biosignatures on Earth-like planets or the characterization of the variety of planetary system architectures.
This workshop will cover the scientific questions in exoplanets motivating direct imaging. Sessions will explore basic optical principles of high-contrast imaging and the fundamentals of coronagraph and wavefront sensing technologies and high-contrast instrument design. Presentations and group exercises will cover approaches to starlight/PSF subtraction and to planet and disk recovery, determination of orbits from imaging observations, and other topics. The workshop will conclude with a look toward future facilities.
The 2024 workshop will be hybrid with both in-person and on-line attendance. The Sagan Summer Workshops are aimed at advanced undergraduates, grad students, and postdocs, however all are welcome to attend. There is no registration fee for these workshops.
There is no registration fee to attend the workshop either in person or remotely. Register using this link.
For remote attendees, we will stream the workshop sessions live and have a Slack channel for remote questions that we will try to answer during the live talks, though the conversation can continue on Slack. All talks will be available on our YouTube channel following the workshop.
Following the workshop, all attendees will have the opportunity to request a letter of attendance.
Preceding the 2024 Sagan Summer Workshop, there will be an optional add-on half-day PROTO (PROfessional Tools and Opportunities) Workshop. See here for further information.
Gather with your fellow workshop attendees, put up your poster and have some light snacks at the Opening Gathering on Sunday afternoon from 4-6 pm.
Lunches: $13 each, options listed on food ordering page All attendees can order a box lunch whether they are joining in a lunch with speaker or not. Lunches will be delivered to the Hameetman Center.Our speakers will have lunch with up to 12 attendees during the workshop and we have also set up virtual meetings with our speakers for remote attendees. The sign-up for both in-person and virtual meetings with speakers was sent out by email; contact us if you need us to send it again.
Monday and Thursday Dinners: $30 per person per dinner We have arranged to have two outdoor dinners during the workshop on Monday and Thursday at 5:30 pm on the Caltech campus. Attendance is optional but we hope you'll join us.Limited travel support is available for undergraduate and graduate students, and postdocs. The amount of travel support that we can offer is limited to local costs (hotel and per diem) only. We cannot provide airfare and applicants are encouraged to seek other sources to augment any travel funds NExScI can provide. Please read the travel guidelines; further information will be provided to the successful applicants.
Note that if you are awarded travel support from IPAC/NExScI, you must agree to participate in the hands-on sessions group projects, with informal presentations at the workshop on Friday, July 26. We also strongly encourage all those receiving travel support to submit a poster and/or POP presentation as part of their participation in the workshop.
Click here for the travel support application.
Each application must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation that should be submitted here. The letter should include a short statement about how the student will benefit from attending the workshop and an indication of financial need, including other possible sources of funding.
Email us: Sagan_Workshop@ipac.caltech.edu:
View presentations from previous summer workshops on the Sagan Summer Workshop YouTube Channel.
Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/CI Lab
(last updated May 21st, 2025 17:05:02)
The NASA Exoplanet Science Institute is operated by the California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under the Exoplanet Exploration Program.
