Saturday, August 08, 2009

NASA - Kepler Mission Detects Exoplanet Atmosphere

NASA - Kepler Mission Detects Exoplanet Atmosphere

"NASA's new exoplanet-hunting Kepler space telescope has detected the atmosphere of a known giant gas planet, demonstrating the telescope's extraordinary scientific capabilities."

"[Planet] HAT-P-7 was known before Kepler turned its attention to the planet. Kepler's measurements are so precise, however, they show something new: a smooth rise and fall of the light caused by the changing phases of the planet, similar to the phases of our own Moon. Kepler could also see the planet's light vanish completely when it passed behind its parent star"

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