Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets

Exploring New Worlds

IREx brings together the best researchers in the field of exoplanets working on current and future major observational astronomy projects, with the ultimate goal of finding life beyond the Solar System.

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Exoplanets in Numbers

Since the discovery in 1995 of the first planet in orbit around a star other than the Sun, astronomers have confirmed the existence of several thousands of exoplanets. This exciting field of astronomical research is truly booming!
10170 - exoplanet candidates
10170
exoplanet candidates
Exoplanets are detected using several different methods. Over ¾ of all candidate exoplanets have been discovered by the Kepler and TESS space telescopes using the transit method.
5690 - confirmed exoplanets
5690
confirmed exoplanets
Other astronomical phenomena such as binary stars or stellar activity can be mistaken for exoplanetary signals. Candidates must be confirmed using multiple observations from different telescopes.
4166 - planetary systems
4166
planetary systems
Like the eight planets in our own Solar System, many of the exoplanets discovered are also found in planetary systems with more than one planet in orbit.
65 - potentially habitable exoplanets
65
potentially habitable exoplanets
An exoplanet similar to the Earth remains the Holy Grail of our research field. We are, among other things, looking for rocky exoplanets that are found in the habitable zone of their star, meaning they are at the right distance from their star such that it could contain water in liquid form.
Our Team

Our Team

IREx includes an expanding team of over 60 people (professors, researchers and students) mainly from the Université de Montréal, McGill University, Bishop's University, the Montreal Planetarium and the Université Laval, all working on various research programs linked to the study of exoplanets and related fields.

Join iREx!

IREx is actively recruiting interns, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, researchers and staff. We promote diversity, inclusion and equity and invite women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities, as well as people of all orientations and gender identities to join our team.
Join iREx!

Faculté des arts et des sciences Courtois postdoctoral competition

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Graduate Studies (MSc/PhD) in 2025

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Our Events

Discussion with UdeM astronomers – ep. 2 – Lisa, Pierrot and Guillaume

As part of 24 heures de science, the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx),…

May 12 2025 - 13 h 00

La Grande conférence 2025: Cold Worlds

This event is over. Watch the conference online and see the main page of our…

March 27 2025 - 19 h 00

Astrophysics Discovery Evening

In 2025, the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets, in collaboration with the Départment de physique…

February 5 2025 - 19 h 00
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