Rutgers University Astrophysics Seminar

Unlike in the solar system, orbits of exoplanets are occasionally highly eccentric and/or misaligned with the stellar equator. These observations naturally question the universality of the flat orbital architecture as seen in the solar system. In this talk, I will discuss observational evidence that some exoplanetary systems are not entirely flat. In particular, I will focus on the constraint on mutual orbital inclinations between cold giant planets and their inner smaller planets based on the combination of Doppler and transit survey data, and discuss how the outer giant planets might affect the flatness of the inner planetary systems.