Furtherman
08-10-2009, 06:14 AM
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/TECH/space/08/08/space.kepler.discovery/art.exoplanet.nasa.jpg
Kepler telescope makes quick discovery (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/08/08/space.kepler.discovery/)
NASA's Kepler space telescope has already made a discovery, and its science operations aren't even officially under way yet.
NASA scientists who put the telescope through a 10-day test after its March 6 launch said this week that Kepler is working well. Its ability to detect minute changes in light has enabled scientists to determine that a planet orbiting a distant star has an atmosphere, shows only one side to its sun and is so hot it glows.
Kepler's ability to take measurements that precise at such a great distance "proves we can find Earth-size planets," William Borucki, Kepler's principal science investigator told reporters at a recent briefing.
The powerful scope is looking at thousands of stars in its vision field in the Milky Way on a 3½-year mission to find planets the size of Earth and to determine how common these planets are.
Damn impressive finding a planet right off the bat. So, will we find another potential "Earth" in the 3 1/2 year mission? That's a tight squeeze. Even The Enterprise had 5 years.
Kepler telescope makes quick discovery (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/08/08/space.kepler.discovery/)
NASA's Kepler space telescope has already made a discovery, and its science operations aren't even officially under way yet.
NASA scientists who put the telescope through a 10-day test after its March 6 launch said this week that Kepler is working well. Its ability to detect minute changes in light has enabled scientists to determine that a planet orbiting a distant star has an atmosphere, shows only one side to its sun and is so hot it glows.
Kepler's ability to take measurements that precise at such a great distance "proves we can find Earth-size planets," William Borucki, Kepler's principal science investigator told reporters at a recent briefing.
The powerful scope is looking at thousands of stars in its vision field in the Milky Way on a 3½-year mission to find planets the size of Earth and to determine how common these planets are.
Damn impressive finding a planet right off the bat. So, will we find another potential "Earth" in the 3 1/2 year mission? That's a tight squeeze. Even The Enterprise had 5 years.