Astrophysics Colloquium NEID: A Next Generation Extreme Precision Radial Velocity Spectrometer and the Quest for Earth Twins Presented by Chad Bender University of Arizona Thursday, November 5, 2020 Virtual Event starts at 11:00 A.M. Abstract Astronomers are entering a golden age of exoplanet discovery and characterization. Space missions such as Kepler and TESS have identified thousands of planets, spanning a wide range of physical and orbital parameters, and JWST is poised to begin a new era of atmospheric characterization. Meanwhile, a new generation of ground-based Doppler spectrometers, purpose built to push below the ~1 m/s instrumental precision barrier, have begun surveying nearby stars with unprecedented radial velocity precision. Such surveys are a critical early step in preparing for a future flagship mission targeting the atmospheres of terrestrial planets. NEID is a NASA-NSF funded precision Doppler spectrometer built for the 3.5 m WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak. The instrument is ultra-stabilized in pressure and temperature, and has a design RV precision of 30 cm/s. Once commissioned, NEID will begin a five year GTO survey of nearby G and K stars to search for and characterize terrestrial mass planets, as well as numerous community driven GO programs. I will describe the design of the instrument and its scientific capabilities, and provide an update on commissioning status. JPL Contact: Sam Halverson   Site Manager: Webmaster: CL 08-3220