That planets could exist around stars other than our Sun -- 'exoplanets' -- had been suspected for centuries and popularized in science fiction. Multiple technological advances have converged in recent decades, leading to the discovery of over 6000 exoplanets since the 1990s. The planets discovered thus far orbit a wide variety of types of stars, and some planet-like objects have been discovered which do not orbit a star at all. Dr. Mamajek will discuss some of the strangest examples of exoplanets yet discovered, and entire new classes of planets that are notably absent from our Solar System. He'll discuss the prospects for discoveries that expand the 'exoplanet zoo' with current NASA missions like James Webb Space Telescope, and future NASA missions like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and Habitable Worlds Observatory. The discovery of the vast range of exoplanets orbiting other stars has helped place our Solar System, and the development of life here on Earth, in a broader cosmic context.

Dr. Eric Mamajek is Deputy Program Chief Scientist of the NASA Exoplanet Exploration Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. His scientific research contributes to the discoveries and characterization of planets orbiting other stars and supports the development of future NASA missions to discover potentially habitable planets orbiting the nearest stars. Eric earned his PhD in astronomy from the University of Arizona, a master's degree in physics from the University of New South Wales, and a bachelor's degree in astronomy & astrophysics, and physics from the Pennsylvania State University. Before starting at JPL in 2016, he was a Professor of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Rochester. He has contributed as author or coauthor to over 230 refereed articles on stars and their planetary systems.