Source: University of Colorado at Boulder
Posted: July 6, 2006
Space Shield Could Help Image Earth-like Planets, Says Study.
"A gigantic, daisy-shaped space shield could be used to block out pesky starlight and allow astronomers using an orbiting telescope to zero in on Earth-like planets in other solar systems, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder study.
"Roughly half the size of a football field, the starshade will be equipped with thrusters to move into the line of sight of distant stars.
The thin plastic "starshade" would allow a telescope trailing thousands of miles behind it to image light from distant planets skimming by the giant petals without being swamped by light from the parent stars, said CU-Boulder Professor Webster Cash. Researchers could then identify planetary features like oceans, continents, polar caps and cloud banks and even detect biomarkers like methane, oxygen and water if they exist, he said."
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060706095650.htm

Bob Clark