An artist's concept of the CoRoT satellite in orbit.
Click on image for full size
CNES / D. Ducros
Related links:
CoRoT website
CoRoT - Searching for distant worlds
Europeans now have a satellite to study
pulsating stars. The mission will
also look for planets that pass in front of the stars. It is named CoRoT.
CoRoT will measure the light from many stars over time. Some stars will
have planets around them. Some planets might pass in front of the star. This will cause a drop in the light CoRoT sees. The drops must be seen
over and over. The color of the light should not change. The shape of
the drop must be right. Then it could be a planet.
Even planets like Earth might be found with CoRoT. This is 10 times
smaller than planets seen from the ground. What if it finds a planet like
Earth? We can look for liquid water and green plants. Maybe even
intelligent life!
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