Revolutionary Astrocomb Promises Discovery of New Earth-Like Planets

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and Cambridge University have recently developed a revolutionary astrocomb that could potentially lead to the discovery of new Earth-like planets. The astrocomb allows for the analysis of the blue-green light emitted by stars, which is not typically possible with other methods.

The astrocomb works by detecting slight variations in a star’s light caused by orbiting exoplanets. By examining shorter wavelength light, researchers hope to uncover previously unknown secrets of the universe.

Dr. Samantha Thompson from Cambridge University expressed excitement about the potential for this new technology to allow for the study of smaller planets with longer orbits. The goal is to discover the first Earth-like planet orbiting around a nearby sun-like star.

The technology is currently being developed for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) being constructed in Chile’s Atacama Desert. This telescope will have a 39-meter primary mirror, making it the largest visible and infrared light telescope in the world. The UK team involved in this project will also be working on implementing astrocombs for telescopes in South Africa and the Canary Islands.

The potential for this new technology to lead to significant discoveries in the realm of space exploration is an exciting prospect for researchers and scientists alike.