Super telescope aims to unlock clues to life beyond earth
Published:
10 July 2004 y., Saturday
The question is the stuff of science fiction, but a French scientist is attempting to find an answer with a telescope. The so-called "hypertelescope" uses numerous small mirrors to reflect light from distant objects into a camera. It relies on a recently-developed technique to get the most from a meagre amount of light and produce a detailed picture.
The design is the brainchild of maverick scientist Antoine Labeyrie, a professor at the prestigious College de France. He says the telescope is powerful enough to scan the surfaces of faraway planets and could provide clues about life there.
It is a bold project given that the world's major space agencies are still years away from a "planet imager" of this sort, but if it works, it could revolutionise astronomy.
Šaltinis:
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