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Google & MIT in search for Earth-like planets

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"When starships transporting colonists first depart the solar system, they may well be headed toward a TESS-discovered planet as their new home."

George R. Ricker, senior research scientist at the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research at MIT

Google joined MIT scientists who are designing a satellite-based observatory -the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)- that they say could for the first time provide a sensitive survey of the entire sky to search for earth-like planets outside the solar system that appear to cross in front of bright stars. Google will fund development of the wide-field digital cameras needed for the satellite.

"Decades, or even centuries after the TESS survey is completed, the new planetary systems it discovers will continue to be studied because they are both nearby and bright," says George Ricker, leader of the project.
pjacobs51
  • added January 06, 2009
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8 responses // Google & MIT in search for Earth-like planets

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    TESS survey will examine the entire sky for stars Think the Project started in 2006. Amazing though what they will find

    Jeffnfun631
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    Is google looking for a world to take over? I guess it will be a good practice.

    Stevox
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    I'm afraid we need to discuss conventions regarding the ethics of space ventures of all sorts.

    A small virus or bacterium, that we may have no knowledge of, which could possibly cling to a rover or to the sole's of our shoes, that in my view might conceivably over-take a whole planet.

    Think: Oops! We turned Mars into a ball of murky green slime.
    "Gee, we just didn't think it through."

    I believe wee need to think it all through. What if the little green men decided to land and say "Hi" - but oops, it destroyed all dynamic life forms on this planet.

    - We - should organize a venue for discussing this aspect with a mind to creating a set of reasonable conventions to offset the probability of the unknowns, or the not thought abouts.
    -Robert

    02
    • 02
    • 6 months ago
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    I love it..... next we will have Google Space!!!!

    webgrafix
    1 response to this
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    The the best Google search ever!

    lordsbassman
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    google universe, here we come..

    FreshNewKicks
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    The evident wisdom of Rodenberry and his Prime Directive shine on.

    manfreddrake

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