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NASA’s Spitzer Sees the Light of Alien ‘Super-Earth’

May 9, 2012 Leave a comment

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope was able to detect a super Earth’s direct light for the first time using its sensitive heat-seeking infrared vision. Super Earth’s are more massive than Earth but lighter than gas giants like Neptune. As this artist’s concept shows, in visible light, a planet is lost in the glare of its star (top view). When viewed in infrared, the planet becomes brighter relative to its star. This is largely due to the fact that the planet’s scorching heat blazes with infrared light. Even on our own bodies emanate more infrared light than visible due to our heat. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

 

ScienceDaily (May 8, 2012) — NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has detected light emanating from a “super-Earth” planet beyond our solar system for the first time. While the planet is not habitable, the detection is a historic step toward the eventual search for signs of life on other planets.

Spitzer has amazed us yet again,” said Bill Danchi, Spitzer program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The spacecraft is pioneering the study of atmospheres of distant planets and paving the way for NASA’s upcoming James Webb Space Telescope to apply a similar technique on potentially habitable planets.”

The planet, called 55 Cancri e, falls into a class of planets termed super Earths, which are more massive than our home world but lighter than giant planets like Neptune. The planet is about twice as big and eight times as massive as Earth. It orbits a bright star, called 55 Cancri, in a mere 18 hours.

Read more : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508174416.htm

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