Catch me if you can: The race to rescue the smallest planets. This project will upgrade a unique Australian observatory to study the smallest planets around other stars, using an innovative new techni

Description

Catch me if you can: The race to rescue the smallest planets. This project will upgrade a unique Australian observatory to study the smallest planets around other stars, using an innovative new technique to provide high precision measurements capturing the tiny shadow of planets as they cross in front of their stars. The project aims to generate new knowledge on potentially Earth-like planets and contribute to the legacy of current and next-generation space telescopes. Expected outcomes include preserving a list of best planets for in-depth characterisations, and the first Australian facility to match the capability of space observatories: detecting planets as small as Earth. This project will benefit the international community by optimising the effort of future space telescopes.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 0201 - Astronomical and Space Sciences. Lead: Prof Robert Wittenmyer