Exoplanets in Transits and their Atmospheres (ExTrA). These new telescopes, located in the observatory of La Silla, within the ESO observatory in northern Chile, have successfully made their first observations.
1 - The ExTrA telescopes at La Silla. - Credit: ESO
This new telescope is responsible for tracking nearby red dwarf stars, to locate transit planets. This will be possible by measuring the variations in the light emitted by the red dwarfs, which will lead to determine if the decreases in the luminosity of these are caused by planets in transit. This powerful tool will also allow scientists to study the characteristics of red dwarfs and planets that it is able to locate.
2 - The ExTrA telescopes at La Silla under a beautiful view of the Milky Way. - Credit: ESO
The place chosen for the location of this wonderful new tool, of course, is one of the best astronomical observation points on our planet. The low atmospheric humidity is always a very sought feature for the location of large optical telescopes. Also the conditions of low light pollution are fantastic in La Silla. That in recent years it has become the location of the largest and most modern telescopes. What has turned the European space agency of the southern observatory (ESO) into the reference agency in space observation.
“The kind of light we are observing — near-infrared — is very easily absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere, so we required the driest and darkest conditions possible. La Silla is a perfect match to our specifications.”
Q1 - Xavier Bonfils, project’s lead researcher. eso 1803
3 - Photograph of one of the three telescopes that make up the ExTrA, inside its dome. - Credit: ESO
To detect and study exoplanets, ExTrA uses three 0.6-meter telescopes. Although it is financed by the government of France for its construction several countries have collaborated. From Austria came the telescopes and their mounts, from Germany the domes and the infrared camera came from the USA, with the array of detectors manufactured by a Belgian company. All this will be operated in the distance, more specifically from Grenoble, France.
According to the words of the project leader, the near future of the Astronomy is very exciting.
“With the next generation of telescopes, such as ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope, we may be able to study the atmospheres of exoplanets found by ExTra to try to assess the viability of these worlds to support life as we know it. The study of exoplanets is bringing what was once science fiction into the world of science fact.”
Q2 - Xavier Bonfils, project’s lead researcher. eso 1803
With the amount of new tools at the disposal of the Astronomers, we will soon find that many planets to date invisible, due to our technological limitations, will be visible. And they can be studied for later interstellar missions.
References
1, 2, 3 - Q1, Q2 - “First Light for Planet Hunter ExTrA at La Silla”. eso1803
https://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso1803/?lang#1
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