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originally posted by: JadeStar
I think for $2 million you could build something like a 0.5 meter Optical/Near-IR space telescope which would do precise RV not only for Alpha Centauri but for Tau Ceti, 40 Eridani, Epsilon Indi, Epsilon Eridani, Groombridge 34, Procyon A and B, 61 Cygni A and B, Groombridge 1618, Lacaille 9352, Lalande 21185, Gliese 1 and Gliese 832.
According to Giovanna Tinetti, an astrophysicist at University College London, her team is now planning to build the Twinkle Telescope, a relatively smaller optical instrument for space exploration that will utilise a 50-centimeter (20 inches) mirror. The Hubble Telescope, one of the biggest telescopes in the world today, uses an 8-foot mirror.
“We have identified a niche of science that could be done very well even with a relatively more modest instrument. Since the planets will be hothouse worlds that are relatively close by Earth, their infrared signatures are so strong that astronomers can infer the presence of molecules, clouds, weather and climate even in a small telescope,” Tinetti told Discovery News.
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
originally posted by: JadeStar
I think for $2 million you could build something like a 0.5 meter Optical/Near-IR space telescope which would do precise RV not only for Alpha Centauri but for Tau Ceti, 40 Eridani, Epsilon Indi, Epsilon Eridani, Groombridge 34, Procyon A and B, 61 Cygni A and B, Groombridge 1618, Lacaille 9352, Lalande 21185, Gliese 1 and Gliese 832.
Follow up
www.ibtimes.com.au...
According to Giovanna Tinetti, an astrophysicist at University College London, her team is now planning to build the Twinkle Telescope, a relatively smaller optical instrument for space exploration that will utilise a 50-centimeter (20 inches) mirror. The Hubble Telescope, one of the biggest telescopes in the world today, uses an 8-foot mirror.
“We have identified a niche of science that could be done very well even with a relatively more modest instrument. Since the planets will be hothouse worlds that are relatively close by Earth, their infrared signatures are so strong that astronomers can infer the presence of molecules, clouds, weather and climate even in a small telescope,” Tinetti told Discovery News.
Though the 2 million is just a weeeeeeeee bit off
But Twinkle isn’t only small in size. Its production budget is only 50 million pounds ($79 million). However, Tinetti said it is enough for them to develop a telescope that would soon become a substantial addition to the growing numbers of revolutionary, modern-day equipment for space exploration. This telescope is capable of detecting other extrasolar planets—or Super-Earths—which could further the existing studies on the possibilities of alien life in different systems and galaxies.
“While Twinkle is much smaller than other counterparts, its heavyweight contribution will be looking at a range of visible and infrared emissions (0.5 microns to 5 microns) from planets around very bright stars which are not the sweet spot of the James Webb Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope,” Tinetti added.
Though “Super-Earth” does not imply anything about its habitability, several scientists believe that new innovations in telescope technology could put us nearer to our search for “other life” outside the Solar System. William Bains, a scientist at MIT, also suggested that the renewed enthusiasm for alien life could also help humans to look beyond exoplanets, as “sky's the limit” in aerospace research.
really all it would take to go ten percent c is an order of magnitude improvement in the initial predicted velocities for fusion powered craft. with optimized magnetic nozzles a fusion engine can theoretically attain speeds of up to 35 percent C. third generation hall effect thrusters could do it provided they had a compact power source and a scaled up reaction mass tank.
originally posted by: oletimer
We already have a couple thousand planets documented.
A telescope dedicated to the Alpha Centauri system is a fine endeavor, as long as you keep in mind the following:
1. Outer space is big. Really, really, really big.
2. For example, using the Space Shuttle to travel at its standard speed of 17,600 mph would take 165,000 years to reach Alpha Centauri and require 10,000 main engines, not to mention the required quantity of fuel.
3. Our current fastest probe is New Horizon, (which just went past Pluto after 9 years of travel), its velocity after a slingshot maneuver to gather additional speed is 50,000 MPH. The Alpha Centauri system will take approximately 75,000 years to reach at that speed.
4. There are currently no realistic options or endeavors to travel anywhere near 1/10th the speed of C.
Logically it makes no sense to dedicate a telescope to this project until there is a method to reach the location in less than a lifetime. Preferably less than a year. Humans a long, long, long way from that happening.
originally posted by: JadeStar
So a telescope with TWINKLE's capabilities will help a great deal in the characterization of nearby super earths around bright stars, possibly including Alpha Centauri
thanks for the article.
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
originally posted by: JadeStar
So a telescope with TWINKLE's capabilities will help a great deal in the characterization of nearby super earths around bright stars, possibly including Alpha Centauri
thanks for the article.
You're welcome. i do think this one is a little bit bigger than the cube sat telescopes you had in mind for which you made the the 2 million guestimate.