Kepler space telescopeNASA space telescope for exoplanetology (2009–2018)The Kepler space telescope was a space telescope launched by NASA in 2009 to discover Earth-sized planets orbiting other stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler (who, ironically, was convinced that planetary systems did not exist around any of the stars) the spacecraft was launched into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit. The principal investigator was William J. Borucki.
Radial velocityThe radial velocity or line-of-sight velocity of a target with respect to an observer is the rate of change of the vectordisplacement between the two points. It is formulated as the vector projection of the target-observer relative velocity onto the relative direction or line-of-sight (LOS) connecting the two points. The radial speed or range rate is the temporal rate of the distance or range between the two points.
Spitzer Space TelescopeNASA Great Observatories← ChandraThe Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF), was an infraredspace telescope that was active between 2003 and 2020. Spitzer was the third space telescope dedicated to infrared astronomy, following IRAS (1983) and ISO (1995–1998). It was the first spacecraft to use an Earth-trailing orbit, later used by the Kepler planet-finder telescope.
Hubble Space TelescopeThe Hubble Space Telescope (HST or Hubble) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versatile, renowned as a vital research tool and as a public relations boon for astronomy. The Hubble Space Telescope is named after astronomer Edwin Hubble and is one of NASA's Great Observatories.
Photometry (astronomy)In astronomy, photometry, from Greek photo- ("light") and -metry ("measure"), is a technique used in astronomy that is concerned with measuring the flux or intensity of light radiated by astronomical objects. This light is measured through a telescope using a photometer, often made using electronic devices such as a CCD photometer or a photoelectric photometer that converts light into an electric current by the photoelectric effect.
JupiterFifth planet from the SunApparent magnitude−2.94 to −1.66Absolute magnitude (H)−9.4Angular diameter29.8" to 50.1"AtmosphereSurface pressure200–600 kPa (30–90 psi)(opaque cloud deck)Scale height27 km (17 mi)Composition by volume89%±2.0%hydrogen10%±2.0%helium0.3%±0.1%methane0.026%±0.004%ammonia0.0028%±0.001%hydrogen deuteride0.0006%±0.0002%ethane0.0004%±0.0004%waterJupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, and the largest in the Solar System.
ExoplanetAn exoplanet or extrasolar planet is a planet outside the Solar System. The first confirmed detection of an exoplanet was in 1992 around a pulsar, and the first detection around a main-sequence star was in 1995. A different planet, first detected in 1988, was confirmed in 2003. In 2016, it was recognized that the first possible evidence of an exoplanet had been noted in 1917, a precovery.
PlanetA planet is a large, rounded astronomical body that is generally required to be in orbit around a star, stellar remnant, or brown dwarf, and is not one itself. The Solar System has eight planets by the most restrictive definition of the term: the terrestrial planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, and the giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
StarLarge self-illuminated object in spaceThe Sun, a G-type main-sequence star, the closest to EarthA star-forming region in the Large Magellanic CloudA star is a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by self-gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night; their immense distances from Earth make them appear as fixedpoints of light.
AstrophotographyAstrophotography, also known as astronomical imaging, is the photography or imaging of astronomical objects, celestial events, or areas of the night sky. The first photograph of an astronomical object (the Moon) was taken in 1839, but it was not until the late 19th century that advances in technology allowed for detailed stellar photography.SunStar at the centre of the Solar SystemThe Sun is the star located at the centre of the Solar System. It is a massive sphere of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core, radiating the energy from its surface mainly as visible light and infrared radiation with 10% at ultraviolet energies. It is the main source of energy for life on Earth.
Glare (vision)Glare is difficulty of seeing in the presence of bright light such as direct or reflected sunlight or artificial light such as car headlamps at night. Because of this, some cars include mirrors with automatic anti-glare functions and in buildings, blinds or louvers are often used to protect occupants. Glare is caused by a significant ratio of luminance between the task (that which is being looked at) and the glare source.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.