Guillem Anglada-Escudé facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guillem Anglada-Escude
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Guillem Anglada
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| Born | 1979 Ullastrell, Barcelona, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish |
| Alma mater | University of Barcelona PhD |
| Known for | Search for extrasolar planets |
| Awards | Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world (2017) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy, Planetary science, Astrophysics |
| Institutions | Institut de Ciències de l'Espai (2019-) Queen Mary University of London (2013–2019) University of Hertfordshire (2014-2015) University of Göttingen (2012-2013) Carnegie Institution of Washington (2008-2011) |
| Thesis | Experiments and relativistic models for optical astrometry from space. Application to the Gaia mission (2007) |
| Doctoral advisor | Jordi Torra, Sergei A. Klioner |
Guillem Anglada-Escudé (born in 1979) is a Spanish astronomer. He is famous for leading a team that found a very important planet. This planet is called Proxima Centauri b.
In 2016, his team confirmed that Proxima Centauri b really exists. This planet is the closest planet outside our solar system that could possibly support life. Their discovery was published in a well-known science magazine called Nature.
Because of his amazing work, Time magazine named Anglada-Escudé one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2017. Nature also listed him as one of the top 10 scientists of 2016. He currently works as a researcher at the Institut de Ciències de l'Espai in Spain.
Contents
Discovering New Worlds
Guillem Anglada-Escudé is an expert in finding extrasolar planets. These are planets that orbit stars other than our Sun. Finding them helps us learn more about the universe. It also helps us understand if life might exist elsewhere.
The Pale Red Dot Project
In 2016, Anglada-Escudé led a special project called "Pale Red Dot." The goal was to look closely at Proxima Centauri. This is the closest star to our Sun. Scientists thought there might be a planet orbiting it.
Finding Proxima Centauri b
His team used powerful telescopes to observe Proxima Centauri. They looked for tiny wobbles in the star's movement. These wobbles can show that a planet's gravity is pulling on the star. After careful study, they confirmed the existence of Proxima Centauri b.
This planet is special because it orbits Proxima Centauri in the "habitable zone." This means it's not too hot and not too cold. It could have liquid water on its surface. Liquid water is necessary for life as we know it.
A Recognized Scientist
Guillem Anglada-Escudé's discovery was a huge step for astronomy. It showed that planets like Earth might be common around other stars. His work brought him international attention.
Awards and Recognition
In 2017, Time magazine included him on their list of the 100 most influential people. This list features people who have made a big impact on the world. He was also recognized by Nature as one of the top scientists of 2016. These awards highlight the importance of his research.
His Work and Studies
Guillem Anglada-Escudé has worked at several important scientific places. These include universities and research centers around the world. His studies focused on understanding how to find and study planets far away.
He earned his PhD from the University of Barcelona. His research there helped improve how we measure distances in space. This is very important for finding new planets.
See also
