Hi!

I posted this 'over there':

[It will probably be several years before researchers can tell whether Ursae Majoris has smaller planets. Two techniques are being discussed.

One involves positioning a telescope in space that would constantly take photos of thousands of stars. If a star has an Earth-like planet, about 1 in 200 stars, by sheer chance, will have planets that pass the star along Earth's line of vision. Such planets will block some light from the star. Scientists hope to use that tiny signal to detect the presence of smaller planets.

Butler said another proposal that could take even longer to implement involves assembling multiple telescopes in space that can block out light from a star and make its planets dimly visible, much in the way that blocking out the headlights of an oncoming car can make it possible to spot the car itself.

Scientists would then directly study the light spectrum
of the planets, and search for the telltale signs of
water and oxygen, the harbingers of life.]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/A15988-2001Aug15.html

Ok, now read this, please:

http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/newscope16a.htm

Not to take anything away from what you both said about the value of amateur astronomers, but these are professionals, these are Marcy and Butler, et al.
They've done very well with what they've had, but obviously, they need better instrument/capabilities.

My point is that the time has come for NASA to finally put to good use their plans for either Kepler, or their TPF missions. If I was them, I would put these 'hunters' in charge. Yes, they are scrounging for funds and a better scope on their own, but something tells me that a land base scope won't give them the results that the proposed Kepler & TPF would give them and as noted in the Washington Post article, they seem to prefer a space based scope. Frankly, so do I... and Phil, and.....!

I've thought of my grandfather (RIP) when this news came out. He used to tell my mother when she was a little girl, when radio was in it's infancy, that 'man would one day walk on the moon'. Not a matter of 'if', but 'when'. He loved astronomy.

Marcia
(Thanks Greg!)