Search telescope for planets

1987/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Teknologia
• Astronomia

Three astronomers at the University of Arizona propose to build a 16-metre infrared space telescope. With this telescope, planets of the size of the Earth would be looked for in stars located in a radius of 10 light years.

The telescope is too large to build it. Therefore, once the parts were made on Earth and placed the pieces in space, it would be mounted on it as a mecano.

The key of this telescope is a ring of darkening. This ring would cover the infrared interference of the star and the radiation emitted by the planet would not be lost within its sun. The infrared spectrum of the planet's atmosphere would inform us of its composition. It is also possible to know whether there is life or not. The presence of ozone in the atmosphere would be a test of this.

It's a nice idea. Despite this, it will take time to get underway.