Title:

DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EXTRASOLAR PLANETS AND PLANTS
             ** Joint talk with CSPF and NAI **
             ** 12:30 - 1:30pm, 14 October   **


Ed Turner
Princeton University Observatory


Abstract:

Following an introductory overview of the scientific goals,
programatic status, wavelength options and major technical
challenges for NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) program,
work on several technical problems related to plans for TPF
will be described in more detail.  These include a new concept
for optimized pupil anisotropic coronograph designs, a theoretical
investigation of terrestrial planet characterization using diurnal
light curves, comparison of this model to recent Earthshine
observations of the Earth's diffuse scattered light and a
speculative but potentially practical technique for the direct
detection of extrasolar plants.