Physics Main Calendar

Toward a Unified Framework for Giant Planet Demographics

May 5, 2026   4:15 - 4:45 pm  
Astronomy Building
Astronomy
Sponsor
Department of Astronomy
Speaker
Dr. Jiayin Dong
Contact
Daniel Franco
E-Mail
danielf9@illinois.edu
Phone
217-300-6769
Views
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Originating Calendar
Astronomy Colloquium Speaker Calendar

Giant planets in the Solar System orbit beyond the water ice line on nearly circular orbits, while exoplanetary giant planets span periods from days to years and exhibit a wide range of eccentricities. What physical processes produce this diversity? I will present an overview of giant planets across orbital separations, drawing on recent TESS discoveries and ground-based follow-up observations. I will discuss evidence that planet-planet scattering may play a central role in shaping giant-planet architectures, assess how well this framework explains the observed population, and highlight key open questions for future observations and theory.

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