Spacecraft finds its first exoplanet
Posted: Mon, May 7, 2007, 8:27 AM ET (1227 GMT)
A French spacecraft launched late last year has discovered its first extrasolar planet, raising hopes that the satellite will be able to discover smaller, Earth-like exoplanets. The Corot spacecraft, developed by the French space agency CNES with ESA participation and launched into Earth orbit in late 2006, detected the exoplanet around a star 1,500 light-years away in the direction of the constellation Monoceros. Corot found the exoplanet, estimated to weigh about 1.3 Jupiter masses, when it transited across the star's disk, temporarily dimming the star by a minute amount. The detection suggests that the spacecraft's instruments will be sensitive enough to detect planets as small as the Earth using the same technique.
A French spacecraft launched late last year has discovered its first extrasolar planet, raising hopes that the satellite will be able to discover smaller, Earth-like exoplanets. The Corot spacecraft, developed by the French space agency CNES with ESA participation and launched into Earth orbit in late 2006, detected the exoplanet around a star 1,500 light-years away in the direction of the constellation Monoceros. Corot found the exoplanet, estimated to weigh about 1.3 Jupiter masses, when it transited across the star's disk, temporarily dimming the star by a minute amount. The detection suggests that the spacecraft's instruments will be sensitive enough to detect planets as small as the Earth using the same technique.
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Sunday, May 4
Elon Musk's Starbase in Texas will officially become a city
BBC — 9:11 am ET (1311 GMT) Elon Musk wanted to turn his SpaceX launch site into a city. Voters in Texas just said yes.
KUT Radio Austin, TX — 9:11 am ET (1311 GMT) Voters Approve Incorporation of SpaceX Hub as Starbase, Texas
New York Times — 9:10 am ET (1310 GMT) SpaceX’s remote site on the Gulf coast will become the next city in Texas
CNN — 9:09 am ET (1309 GMT) Elon Musk’s Starbase on its way to becoming a Texas city after lopsided early voting results
POLITICO — 9:09 am ET (1309 GMT) |
