First steps in direct exoplanet spectroscopy January 16, 2010
Posted by sarah in: new astronomy . 2comments
Top: Image of star HR8799 and its exoplanet HR8799c (ESO/M.Janson). Bottom: The spectrum as recorded by the NACO detector, prior to extraction ; the vertical direction is spatial, horizontal is spectral (M. Janson et al, 2010)
Astronomers collaborating from both sides of the Atlantic have obtained the first direct spectrum of an exoplanet. The news here is mainly that they managed to record the spectrum and separate it reliably from that of the host star. Their short letter in ApJ, posted to astro-ph yesterday, doesn’t delve deeply into the implications of what they found but focuses more on the way they obtained, processed and analysed their data to separate the planet’s signature from that of the star.
Exoplanets continue to inspire October 27, 2009
Posted by sarah in: new astronomy, science . 1 comment so far
At a conference last week, a team of astronomers announced the discovery of 32 new exoplanets. This confirms what many already suspected: they’re everywhere! The disoveries were made by European astronomers based around Prof. Michel Mayor’s group at the Observatory of Geneva, who continue to increase their exoplanet tally since they spotted the first one around a regular star, back in 1995. Their secret? A small telescope with a damn fine instrument, that they themselves built specifically for the job.
Kepler breaks new ground August 8, 2009
Posted by sarah in: new astronomy, science, space . 2comments
Kepler launched in March 2009
The IAU General Assembly in Rio may well be the heart of the action in astronomy at the moment, but the rest of the world has not stopped either. Yesterday NASA announced the first results from its planet-hunting satellite Kepler, which was launched in March of this year. As I was holed up at the conference I wasn’t able to follow the news conference, but I gather the results are really excellent and very exciting already at this early stage of the mission. The bottom line: based on first data, Kepler is performing extremely well and is capable of detecting Earth-like exoplanets. This is a major achievement for all scientists and engineers involved, who I am sure will be delighted with these data.
Professor Astronomy in Texas has a full overview of the results presented by NASA, and plenty of expertise to put it all into context. Follow the jump for the full lowdown!
Image: NASA/K. Shiflett
Waxing lyrical about exoplanets May 28, 2009
Posted by sarah in: new astronomy, science, space . Add a commentThis year we celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first published astronomical observations with a telescope, by Galileo Galilei. Galilei used his telescope to observe the changing phases of Venus and reveal the true configuration of the Solar System. Now, exactly four centuries later, CoRoT observations have shown the changing phases of an extrasolar planet for the first time in optical light.
Blimey, is that a Nature-worthy cheesy quote or what?! And …. that’s exactly what it is*. (more…)
Off she goes! March 8, 2009
Posted by sarah in: science . Add a commentKepler’s launch was a sucecss, yay! Watch a video of it below:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g44uA8kKwQ]
