Exoplanets In Our Backyard - Bringing Solar System and Exosystem sciences together.

Abstract:

The past year has witnessed a growing effort between the planetary science and exoplanetary communities to increase collaboration, exchange scientific information, and understand each other’s contexts. Both communities increasingly recognizen the benefit form these cross-disciplinary, cross-divisional interactions and cooperation. Exoplanets in Our Backyard was a workshop hosted by the Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG), the Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG), and the Exoplanet Exploration Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG) to examine and discuss exoplanet-solar system synergies on planetary properties, formation, evolution, and habitability. Over 100 participants – approximately evenly split between solar system and exoplanetary scientists, came together to cover topics including comparative planetology on worlds near and far; solar system studies as a baseline to inform studies of extrasolar planetary properties and evolution; and lessons learned on planetary statistics, demographics, and system architectures from extrasolar planetary systems. Findings of the meeting identified key needs for fostering better communication and collaboration between the communities, and gave rise to several initiatives to further these goals.