138 PH V SICS OF THE IMPOSSIBLE
Jupiter-sized planet had migrated from a great distance and gradually
spiraled into the center of the solar system (probably due to friction
caused by dust). In that case, the Jupiter-size planet would eventually
cross the orbit of the smaller, Earth-like planet, flinging it into outer
space. And if the Jupiter-sized planet followed a highly elliptical orbit,
it would mean that the Jupiter-sized planet would pass regularly
through the Goldilocks zone, again causing any Earth-like planet to be
flung into space.
These findings were disappointing to planet hunters and astronomers hoping to discover other Earth-like planets, but in hindsight
these findings were to be expected. Our instruments are so crude that
they can detect only the largest, fastest-moving Jupiter-sized planet that
can have a measurable effect on the mother star. Hence it is not surprising that today's telescopes can detect only monster planets that are
moving rapidly in space. If an exact twin of our own solar system exists
in outer space, our instruments are probably too crude to find it
All this may change, with the launching of Corot, Kepler, and the
Terrestrial Planet Finder, three satellites that are designed to locate several hundred Earth-like planets in space. The Corot and Kepler satellites, for example, will examine the faint shadow that would be cast by
an Earth-like planet as it crosses the face of the mother star, slightly
reducing its sunlight. Although the Earth-like planet would not be visible, the reduction in sunlight from the mother star could be detected
by satellite.
The French Corot satellite (which in French stands for Convection,
Stellar Rotation, and Planetary Transits) was successfully launched on
December 2006 and represents a milestone, the first space-based
probe to search for extrasolar planets. Scientists hope to find between
ten and forty Earth-like planets. If they do, the planets will probably be
rocky, not gas giants, and will be just a few times bigger than the
Earth. Corot will also probably add to the many Jupiter-sized planets
already found in space. "Corot will be able to find extrasolar planets of
all sizes and natures, contrary to what we can do from the ground at
the moment," says astronomer Claude Catala. Altogether scientists
hope the satellite will scan up to 120,000 stars.
Jupiter-sized planet had migrated from a great distance and gradually
spiraled into the center of the solar system (probably due to friction
caused by dust). In that case, the Jupiter-size planet would eventually
cross the orbit of the smaller, Earth-like planet, flinging it into outer
space. And if the Jupiter-sized planet followed a highly elliptical orbit,
it would mean that the Jupiter-sized planet would pass regularly
through the Goldilocks zone, again causing any Earth-like planet to be
flung into space.
These findings were disappointing to planet hunters and astronomers hoping to discover other Earth-like planets, but in hindsight
these findings were to be expected. Our instruments are so crude that
they can detect only the largest, fastest-moving Jupiter-sized planet that
can have a measurable effect on the mother star. Hence it is not surprising that today's telescopes can detect only monster planets that are
moving rapidly in space. If an exact twin of our own solar system exists
in outer space, our instruments are probably too crude to find it
All this may change, with the launching of Corot, Kepler, and the
Terrestrial Planet Finder, three satellites that are designed to locate several hundred Earth-like planets in space. The Corot and Kepler satellites, for example, will examine the faint shadow that would be cast by
an Earth-like planet as it crosses the face of the mother star, slightly
reducing its sunlight. Although the Earth-like planet would not be visible, the reduction in sunlight from the mother star could be detected
by satellite.
The French Corot satellite (which in French stands for Convection,
Stellar Rotation, and Planetary Transits) was successfully launched on
December 2006 and represents a milestone, the first space-based
probe to search for extrasolar planets. Scientists hope to find between
ten and forty Earth-like planets. If they do, the planets will probably be
rocky, not gas giants, and will be just a few times bigger than the
Earth. Corot will also probably add to the many Jupiter-sized planets
already found in space. "Corot will be able to find extrasolar planets of
all sizes and natures, contrary to what we can do from the ground at
the moment," says astronomer Claude Catala. Altogether scientists
hope the satellite will scan up to 120,000 stars.