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Astronomy
Biology Chemistry Documentaries Earth Sciences Humanity Life On Earth Mathematics Physics Science Fiction Technology ![]() ![]() Articles / AstronomyESA to Launch New Space Telescope to Further Study of Distant Planets ![]() The new telescope, CHEOPS (CHaracterizing ExO PlanetS), will look for fluctuations in brightness of nearby stars to tell if something's orbiting them. It will play a huge part in figuring out the planets' mass and radius - the key variables to determining the planet's internal composition, figuring the kind of resources they can provide and help scientists learn more about how planets form. In particular, CHEOPS will scan nearby solar systems for planets that resemble Earth - with vegetation, oxygen/ozone in its atmosphere etc. This would help come up with a definitive answer about whether or not extraterrestrial life exists. According to Martin Rees, Britain's Astronomer Royal, we should know in a couple of decades whether or not such a planet exists anywhere near our solar system. CHEOPS will orbit the Earth in sync with the sun at 500 miles above the planet's surface. The ESA currently plans to launch it sometime in 2017. By Denis Ivanov Source: BBC CommentsThere are no comments on this item.
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