Working Group on Extrasolar Planets

Groupe de Travail sur les planètes extra-solaires

Members of Working Group (2003-2006)

Chair (and Web Page Master): Alan Boss
Members: Paul Butler, William Hubbard, Philip Ianna, Martin Kürster, Jack Lissauer, Michel Mayor, Karen Meech, Francois Mignard, Alan Penny, Andreas Quirrenbach, Jill Tarter, Alfred Vidal-Madjar

Charge

The WGESP was charged with acting as a focal point for research on extrasolar planets and organizing IAU activities in the field, including reviewing techniques and maintaining a list of identified planets. The details of the Terms of Reference are available.

Definition of a "planet"

The WGESP developed a Working Definition of a "planet", subject to change as we learn more about the population of very low mass companions.

List of Planets

The WGESP developed a Working List of extrasolar planet candidates, subject to revision. In most cases, the orbital inclination of these objects is not yet determined, which is why most should still be considered candidate planets.

Creation of IAU Commission 53 on Extrasolar Planets

The WGESP ended its six years of existence in August 2006, with the decision of the IAU to create a new commission dedicated to extrasolar planets as a part of Division III of the IAU. The founding president of Commission 53 is Michael Mayor, in honor of his seminal contributions to this new field of astronomy. The Vice President is Alan Boss, and the Organizing Committee members are Paul Butler, William Hubbard, Philip Ianna, Martin Kürster, Jack Lissauer, Karen Meech, Francois Mignard, Alan Penny, Andreas Quirrenbach, Jill Tarter, and Alfred Vidal-Madjar.