NASA has just announced an excellent line. Already overcome 6000 exoplanets Discovered. It may seem like a small figure. However, if we are reating this given that the first official opening of the exoplanet occurred in 1992 and that the 5000 barrier was overcome Just 3 years agoThe field of 1000 exoplanets per year. And this is only the beginning.
The most curious thing is that it is possible that the number of detected exoplanets is even larger, since at the beginning of the 20th century some dubious stars were discovered, which with current knowledge, They can be exoplanetsThe field in any case, it is clear that the discovery tools have advanced significantly in the last century, and that, thanks to this, that only 30 years ago it was only anecdotal today is the most common.
There are many Tools and telescopes It specializes only in the search for exoplanets. Many belong to NASA, but others are part of the team of other agencies, such as the European Space Agency (ESA). Even in Spain, we have a large weight in Carmen, an international search project of an exoplanet, the main instrument of which is located in a high -quality observatory in Almeria.
How are exoplanets looking for?
Exoplanets are planets that are found Outside the solar system. Therefore, they do not rotate around the sun, like the earth and their other neighbors, but Around the other star.
So far away Direct observation is usually more difficultThe field can be found only when they are far enough from their star and, in addition, with the help CoronographThe field is a tool that hides the light of the star, so the planet, much smaller, is not overshadowed and can be detected using telescopes.
Despite this, these certain conditions are necessary. Therefore, many other methods are usually used, among which the most common is the method of traffic, radial velocity and astrometry. The transit method is based on the fact that when the planet rotates around its star, there is a moment when, from our point of view as observers, interrupts the light of the star that reaches usThe field is essentially, in their broadcast journey, they are placed from time to time between the star and our telescopes. For this reason, there are tools that stand out specifically for detection Variable fluctuations in the brightness of the star. If we periodically see that this is interrupted, it is possible that something turns. Thus, many exoplanets were discovered.
As for two other mentioned methods, both are based on the same principle. And, no matter how much a star more than the planets that turnThey also generate some Gravitational influence. The method of astrometry detects tiny variations in the position of a star caused by an object that rotates around it, while the method Radial change It focuses on variations of the star itself. In short, one measures changes in position, and the other – the continuous movement of the star.
There is still a long way forward
After the announcement of detection 6000 first exoplanets, NASA also reported that there is Another 8,000 candidates exoplanets that can be confirmed in the near future. This is only the beginning.
Why is it so interesting to discover exoplanets?
The discovery of exoplanets at different points of their evolution helps scientists better understand how planetary systems are formedOnly for this any exoplanet is good. However, the most desirable are those around AEArrows similar to the sunThe field is especially if they themselves have characteristics similar to the characteristics of the Earth.
The goal is to find the inhabited planets and, perhaps, when the tools allow this, they also check if they are populated. By logic, if you want to look for life there, we must also look beyond our solar system. Therefore, among many other things, this new announcement of exoplanets has become so interesting.
Source: Hiper Textual
