Exoplanets: What They Are and How We Find Them
Imagine a world with two shadows and a double sunset—it sounds like Star Wars, but Kepler-16b (pictured below) is a very real exoplanet just 245 light-years away. While it’s easy to view these worlds as far-off curiosities, the study of exoplanets is happening right here in Western New York.
The hunt for exoplanets has moved far beyond massive space agencies. Today, it’s about citizen science: passionate observers using precise technology to contribute real data to the global scientific community.
Join us at the Martz-Kohl Observatory on Wednesday, May 20th at 7:30 p.m. Observatory President Tom Traub will present “Exoplanets: What They Are and How We Find Them,” a look at the methodologies behind current exoplanet research and our local contributions to the field.
The talk will be live at the observatory and streamed via Zoom. More info: https://martzobservatory.org/
Here’s some of what Tom be covering:
The Science of Dips: Ever wonder how we find planets? We’ll break down the “transit method”—measuring tiny, tell-tale dips in starlight as a planet crosses its sun. It’s just like watching a moth flutter across a distant streetlight.
The Wolf 327b Discovery: Get an inside look at our 2025 collaboration that helped identify a “super-Earth” scorched by its star—orbiting in just 13.7 hours.
High-Tech Outreach: See how we’re utilizing advanced astro-imaging and the automation of our 24-inch telescope to conduct professional-grade research at a local level.
Citizen Science: Learn how a lifelong passion for engineering and astronomy translates into real-world astronomy.
As President of the Marshal Martz Memorial Astronomical Association Inc. (MMMAA), Tom Traub blends his technical background as a design engineer with decades of observational astronomy. His work has been instrumental in upgrading our facility, specifically the automation of our 24-inch telescope and the integration of new astro-imaging systems that now fuel our current research.
Tom is a staunch advocate for citizen science, having contributed to the 2025 discovery of the exoplanet Wolf 327b. As a NASA Eclipse Ambassador and educator, he is dedicated to bridging the gap between complex science and the community—making the cosmos accessible to everyone.
Come for the science and the stories, stay for the tour! We’ll be offering guided walks of the observatory and, weather permitting, live viewing through our large telescopes. We look forward to seeing you there.
Martz-Kohl Observatory
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.