Posted on 03 February 2010. Tags: 1995, Earth, European Space Agency, extrasolar planet, extroplanet, Geneva University, Kepler, Michel Mayor, Milky Way, NASA, Orion spiral arm, Outer Space Affairs, professor, Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence
Professor Michel Mayor, the scientist who led the team that identified the first extrasolar planet in 1995, believes a planet similar in size and composition to Earth will soon be found.
Prof Mayor, of Geneva University, said that the prospect of finding a planet habitable for humans had come a step closer through rapid technological advances allowing observation of planets outside the solar system.
Addressing a Royal Society conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) programme, he said: “The search for twins of Earth is motivated by the ultimate prospect of finding sites with favourable conditions for the development of life. Read the full story
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Posted in Archive, Authors, Cogent Nirvana, J.K., Space, Technology, Thought of the day
Posted on 20 October 2009. Tags: Astronomers, Chile, discovery, Earth, European Southern Observatory, exoplanets, galaxy, Geneva University, gravity, High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher, jupiter, La Silla facility, low-mass planets, solar system, Stephane Udry, Switzerland
Astronomers have announced a haul of planets found beyond our Solar System.
The 32 “exoplanets” ranged in size from five times the mass of Earth to 5-10 times the mass of Jupiter, the researchers said.
They were found using a very sensitive instrument on a 3.6m telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla facility in Chile. Read the full story
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Posted in Archive, Authors, J.K., Science, Space
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