***********************************************************
JOINT DAUT-ICTP-OATS-SISSA COLLOQUIUM
***********************************************************
Speaker: Scott Tremaine (Princeton University, NJ, USA)

Title: The long-term evolution of orbits in planetary systems

Date: Thursday, June 19th, 2008
Time: 16:00
Venue: Villa Bazzoni

***********************************************************
Abstract:
The behavior of planetary orbits over very long terms remains incompletely understood despite three centuries of study starting with Newton. Understanding this behavior is central to many issues of planetary science: Why are the planets so regularly spaced? How has the Earth's orbit evolved throughout geological history? What determines the properties of extrasolar planets? N-body integrations allow us to follow the motion of planets reliably for billions of years, and thereby inform us about the evolution and current properties of planetary systems, and the ultimate fate of the Earth and other planets.
***********************************************************
contact: Marco Fulle (OATS)