We were thrilled to welcome a visitor from Kielder Observatory to our sixth form last week for a fascinating presentation on astronomy, with a special focus on exoplanets. Our Year 12 and 13 students had the opportunity to learn about how astronomers discover and study planets beyond our solar system, gaining insight into the cutting-edge techniques used to detect and record these distant worlds.

During the session, students explored the different methods scientists use to observe exoplanets, including the transit and radial velocity techniques, and learned how data from these observations is analysed to understand planetary composition, orbit, and habitability. The presentation sparked plenty of discussion and curiosity, giving students a deeper appreciation of how modern astronomy expands our understanding of the universe—and the incredible possibilities that lie beyond our own solar system.