The Solar Gravitational Lens will Map Exoplanets. Seriously.
Launch Pad Astronomy・2 minutes read
The next generation of space telescopes like HabEx and LUVOIR aims to directly image Earth-sized exoplanets using advanced technologies, despite the challenge of resolving exoplanet surfaces. Utilizing the Sun as a gravitational lens could magnify distant exoplanets by 100 billion times, with a team led by Dr. Slava Turyshev at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory working towards this goal using a Solar Gravitational Lens mission.
Insights
- Utilizing the Sun as a gravitational lens can amplify exoplanets by 100 billion times, enabling detailed imaging, with a mission led by Dr. Slava Turyshev at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory working towards this goal.
- Advanced telescopes like HabEx and LUVOIR aim to directly image Earth-sized exoplanets using coronagraphs and starshades, although current technology falls short in resolving exoplanet surfaces, necessitating a telescope 90 km in diameter to achieve this level of detail.
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Recent questions
How will future telescopes identify habitable exoplanets?
By analyzing light reflecting off exoplanets to determine atmospheric composition.
What is needed to resolve exoplanet surfaces?
A more powerful telescope than currently feasible.
What are scientists working on to image exoplanets within our lifetimes?
Creating images using advanced telescopes like HabEx and LUVOIR.
How do telescopes directly image Earth-sized exoplanets?
By using coronagraphs and starshades to block out starlight.
What is the goal for achieving detailed images of exoplanets?
To achieve a 1000x1000 pixel resolution image within our lifetimes.
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