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It's amazing when you consider that this is a direct image (the first image in the article) of planets almost 200 light years away, taken from telescopes on the
by hliyan 8y ago
It's amazing when you consider that this is a direct image (the first image in the article) of planets almost 200 light years away, taken from telescopes on the surface of the Earth -- something that would have made me jump up and down with excitement twenty years ago. It is now almost routine.
Also note that these planets are gas giants about 20AU away from the parent star. It's entirely possible that there are rocky planets closer to the star that might be getting occluded along with the star's light. Those may have water too.
- SubiculumCode 8y agoI hadn't realized it was now at the level of routine. The article indicates "So far, astronomers have directly-imaged more than a dozen exoplanets." 20 AU...so like Neptune distance. This is the kind of image that makes me want to fund super space telescope(s). Getting two space telescopes to work in conjunction like the Keks would be awesome for the resolving power.
- craftyguy 8y agoWhat's almost equally amazing is the article actually includes the image it is discussing, rather than just some "artist's impression."