The current search area of the Kepler mission, monitoring 145,000 stars for signs of exoplanets - with a particular interest in those that may be in a star's 'habitable zone'. Credit: Lomberg/NASA.
The Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia counted 548 confirmed extrasolar planets at 6 May 2011, while the NASA Star and Exoplanet Database (updated weekly) was today reporting 535. These are confirmed findings and the counts will significantly increase as more candidate exoplanets are assessed. For example, there were the 1,235 candidates announced by the Kepler mission in February, including 54 that may be in a habitable zone.
So what techniques are brought to bear to come up with these findings? (...)
Read the rest of Astronomy Without A Telescope – Planet Spotting (895 words)
© Steve Nerlich for Universe Today, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: exoplanet detection, Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia
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Full story at http://www.universetoday.com/85475/astronomy-without-a-telescope-planet-spotting/
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