TNO Star Separators Help ESO With Detection Of Exoplanets

EXO WORLDS

Since the first confirmed discovery of an exoplanet in 1995, more than 300 planets orbiting other stars have been found. Most of these discoveries were made by the radial velocity method (measuring variations in the star's relatively velocity). Astrometry is a complementary technique to the radial-velocity method.

by Staff Writers
Delft, Netherlands (SPX) Sep 19, 2008
The PRIMA facility with TNO's Star Separators was successfully tested during a "first light" test at the beginning of September. PRIMA will set a new benchmark in astrometry and will enable exoplanet detection with high precision astrometric measurements as well as imaging of faint objects.

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has built the PRIMA (Phase-Referenced Imaging and Microarcsecond Astrometry) facility on the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile. TNO's Star Separators have been installed on two VLTI Auxiliary Telescopes.

Star Separator
TNO will provide ESO with Star Separators for all four Unit Telescopes (UT) and two Auxiliary Telescopes (AT). The Star Separator is an opto-mechanical system, designed to separate the light of two astronomical objects. The STS system is a unique combination of precision optics, advanced mechanical design and sophisticated control engineering.

Finding new planets
Since the first confirmed discovery of an exoplanet in 1995, more than 300 planets orbiting other stars have been found. Most of these discoveries were made by the radial velocity method (measuring variations in the star's relatively velocity). Astrometry is a complementary technique to the radial-velocity method.

It has a different detection bias, more suitable to planets in large orbits, similar to our own solar system. For successful exoplanet detection an astrometric accuracy of at least 10 microarcsec is needed, comparable to the ability to detect a Euro coin on the Moon from Earth. This is beyond the performance of the current space and ground based astronomical telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope.

How PRIMA works
PRIMA is composed of four major sub-systems: Star Separators, Differential Delay Lines, Metrology and Fringe Sensor Units.

TNO was responsible for the development of the Star Separators. PRIMA allows simultaneous observation of two objects. One is a bright star in the field of view of the telescope and the other one the (faint) scientific object.

The bright star is used to control the interferometry (fringe position). When the fringes of the bright star are stabilised, the fringes of the fainter science object can be studied. With PRIMA the global limiting magnitude of the VLTI will gain about four magnitudes. Science observations will start after the completion of a 6 months testing and characterisation phase.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us Digg Reddit

YahooMyWeb Google Facebook

Related Links
TNO
Lands Beyond Beyond - extra solar planets - news and science
Life Beyond Earth

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

EXO WORLDS

First Picture Of Likely Planet Around Sun-Like Star

Toronto, Canada (SPX) Sep 17, 2008
Astronomers have unveiled what is likely the first picture of a planet around a normal star similar to the sun. Three University of Toronto scientists used the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawai'i to take images of the young star 1RXS J160929.1-210524 (which lies about 500 light-years from Earth) and a candidate companion of that star.

ENERGY TECH Analysis: Iran-Turkey maritime ties 1M barrels of emergency oil are moved Analysis: Russia's pipeline victory Economic downturn 'a chance to invest' in green energy: Gore	CIVIL NUCLEAR Australia denies China blocking uranium to India White House sends India nuclear deal to Congress India nears nuclear pacts with France, Russia: govt Singh to visit US Sept 25
BLUE SKY New Clues To Air Circulation In The Atmosphere Strange Clouds At The Edge Of Space Dutch town tests 'air-purifying' concrete Scientists Search For Answers From The Carbon In The Clouds	WOOD PILE Oil Palm Plantations Are No Substitute For Tropical Rainforests Norway donates up to one billion dollars to save Brazil rain forest Scientists Point To Forests For Carbon Storage Solutions Prince Charles calls for 'wartime' effort against deforestation
FARM NEWS Scientists Behind Doomsday Seed Vault Ready Crops For Climate Change China must probe delays in uncovering milk-scandal: WHO China admits 'flaws' in dairy sector supervision: state TV Fear, confusion, anger for Chinese parents amid milk scare	CAR TECH New Research Could Help Cars Kick The Fossil Fuel Habit Tesla to produce zero-emission sedan in Silicon Valley General Motors looks for a jolt from electric Volt Marking 100 years, GM says China crucial to its future
AEROSPACE Safer Skies For The Flying Public Chinese airlines fly into headwinds in Olympic year The M2-F1 - An Aircraft Without Wings China's Tianjin building runway for Airbus test flights: report	NUCLEAR SPACE

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement