Completing the Census of Extrasolar Planets in the Milky Way with the Microlensing Planet Finder

Details Completing the Census of Extrasolar Planets in the Milky Way with the Microlensing Planet Finder Completing the Census of Extrasolar Planets in the Milky Way with the Microlensing Planet Finder

Dec 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004aas...205.1126b&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society Meeting 205, #11.26; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 36, p.1356

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

6

Scientific paper

The Microlensing Planet Finder (MPF) is a proposed Discovery mission that will complete the first census of extrasolar planets with sensitivity to planets like those in our own solar system. MPF will employ a 1.1m aperture telescope, which images a 1.3 sq. deg. field-of-view in the near-IR, in order to detect extrasolar planets with the gravitational microlensing effect. MPF's sensitivity extends down to planets of 0.1 Earth masses, and MPF can detect Earth-like planets at all separations from 0.7AU to infinity. If the planet:star mass ratios and planetary semi-major axes of our own Solar System are typical, MPF will detect 66 terrestrial planets (Venus/Earth/Mars analogs), 3300 gas giants (Jupiter/Saturn analogs), and 110 ice giants (Uranus/Neptune analogs). Thus, MPF will be able to be able to find analogs to our own Solar System's planets even if planetary systems like ours are not common. MPF's extrasolar planet census will provide critical information needed to understand the formation and frequency of extra solar planetary systems similar to our own.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Completing the Census of Extrasolar Planets in the Milky Way with the Microlensing Planet Finder does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Completing the Census of Extrasolar Planets in the Milky Way with the Microlensing Planet Finder, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Completing the Census of Extrasolar Planets in the Milky Way with the Microlensing Planet Finder will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1635945