Planet Discoverer Interferometer (PDI) I: a potential precursor to Terrestrial Planet Finder

Details Planet Discoverer Interferometer (PDI) I: a potential precursor to Terrestrial Planet Finder Planet Discoverer Interferometer (PDI) I: a potential precursor to Terrestrial Planet Finder

Jul 1998

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998spie.3350..683w&link_type=abstract

Proc. SPIE Vol. 3350, p. 683-689, Astronomical Interferometry, Robert D. Reasenberg; Ed.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

5

Scientific paper

We consider a possible precursor interferometer to terrestrial planet finder. The precursor called planet discoverer interferometer (PDI) would search for broadband 10 micrometers radiation from possible terrestrial planets orbiting stars out to a distance of 8-10pc and at an angular separation of at least 0.1 arcseconds. There are about 20 stars of types A,F,G and K around which an Earth-analog might be detected. PDI would be able to confirm such planets by seeing their orbital motion. PDI would also be able to observe 5 micrometers radiation from the more massive and younger gas-giant planets around stars up to distances approximately 150 pc, separated from their star by more than 0.05 arc seconds. It would also see the re-radiated thermal radiation of Jupiter-like planets at temperatures above approximately 130K. The device would be a 15m long truss with four SIRTF- like telescopes. It would need to be in a SIRTF-like Earth- trailing orbit, and would be radiatively cooled. A very preliminary design suggest that PDI could fit into the shroud of a Delta II rocket. Similar preliminary calculations suggest that the total lifetime cost of such a mission would be under 300 million dollars. Detailed studies of this concept are in process.

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