Post by glactus on Feb 20, 2008 18:01:31 GMT
The Kepler spacecraft
Goals of the Kepler mission
Goal (1)
Determine the frequency of terrestrial and larger planets in or near the habitable zone of a wide variety of spectral types of stars.
Goal (2)
Determine the distribution of sizes and orbital semi-major axes of these planets.
Goal (3)
Estimate the frequency of planets and orbital distribution of planets in multiple stellar systems.
Goal (4)
Determine the distribution of semi-major axis, albedo, size, mass and density of short period giant planets.
Goal (5)
Identify additional members of each photometrically discovered planetary system using complimentary techniques.
Goal (6)
Determine the properties of those stars that harbor planetary systems.
Here is an image by Carter Roberts of the Eastbay Astronomical Society in Oakland, CA, showing the Milky Way region of the sky where the Kepler spacecraft/ photometer will be pointing.
credits:
Kepler spacecraft: NASA
Milky Way image: Carter Roberts
kepler.nasa.gov/sci/basis/fov-milkyway-labeled.html
Text: kepler.nasa.gov/sci/basis/goals.html