Simple “Binocular” Telescope Finds Another Planet Beyond Solar System
Astronomers used this inexpensive telescope to find an extrasolar planet transiting the face of a Sun-like star 600 light-years from Earth. The telescope, which looks like a pair of binoculars, consists of two 200-millimeter telephoto camera lenses. The lenses are attached to electronic device s that measured slight dips in light output from the star, indicating that an object was crossing in front of it. The telescope is on the summit of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. Research team members are from the Space Telescope Science Institute; Rice University; Boston University; University of Hawaii; University of Illinois; University of Florida; Boston University; Racoon Run Observatory; Hereford Arizona Observatory; CBA Belgium Observatory.
May 19, 2006 Baltimore, Maryland - The Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore reports an equipment and money breakthrough in the search for planets orbiting suns beyond our solar system. An international team of professional and amateur astronomers, using simple off-the-shelf equipment have discovered a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a star similar to our sun 600 light-years from Earth in the constellation Corona Borealis.
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