<p>Good morning everyone. My name is Professor Michael Andrews. 

                On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to welcome 

                you to Extrasolar Planetology, which is a new class being offered 

                by the Astronomy Department this year.<br>

                <br>

                About twenty-five years ago, there was no solid proof that other 

                planets existed beyond our solar system. Most astronomers at that 

                time felt that planets had to be out there, but they could not 

                see them or prove they were there. Why? Simply put, planets are 

                small and space is vast. Imagine trying to see a pea with a telescope 

                from a hundred miles away, and you'll understand how hard it is 

                to find planets that are light years distant.</p>

              <p>Clearly, something changed, for we now have a class called Extrasolar 

                Planetology. What changed? Well, mainly, instruments got better 

                and sophisticated telescopes were put into space. As a result, 

                astronomers began to find the proof that they had lacked before.</p>

              <p>The very first good evidence for the existence of other planets 

                came from observations of 'wobbling' stars. Using their high-tech 

                instruments and space-based telescopes, astronomers found that 

                some stars wobbled as they moved through space. What could be 

                causing this the astronomers wondered? And then Eureka! The only 

                likely explanation seemed to be that these stars were being affected 

                by the gravity of unseen orbiting companions. In other words-planets!</p>

              <p>And now, if you would please turn off the lights, I would like 

                to show you some slides of a few of these wobbling stars. <br>

              </p>

              <p><br>

              </p>