This has been bothering me since I heard the breaking news this morning
Scientists using the Kepler Space Telescope (launched in 2009), have detected a possible life-supporting planet similar to earth.
I find the news of great interest but here's the rub:
Therefore:
So - how the heck are the scientists (or the telescope) able to gather these information?
And what makes our scientists so-damn-sure?
Is there a scientist amongst us who can help explain?
[I thought it was an April Fools joke but...we're in July]
Information on the kepler space telescope here
Scientists using the Kepler Space Telescope (launched in 2009), have detected a possible life-supporting planet similar to earth.
I find the news of great interest but here's the rub:
- It is about 1,400 light years away
- A spacecraft (today's standard) would take about 25.8 million years to reach this planet
Therefore:
- Physically no spacecraft have reached kepler 452b (name of planet)
- Light takes too long, and hence there can be no photographic images of kepler 452b
So - how the heck are the scientists (or the telescope) able to gather these information?
And what makes our scientists so-damn-sure?
Is there a scientist amongst us who can help explain?
[I thought it was an April Fools joke but...we're in July]
Information on the kepler space telescope here