Photos of Exoplanets

[3point14]

I've often wondered, if one had a big enough lens, or an effectively big enough lens (and a massive amount of processing power), if this was possible. Apparently, people much, much cleverer than me have thought about it a lot and will be allowed to keep thinking about it with a budget.

I suspect I will never see an image of an extra-solar planet. But it would be very, very cool


"Even in the presence of the solar corona, the SNR is high enough that in 6 months of integration time one can reconstruct the exoplanet image with ~25 km-scale surface resolution, enough to see surface features and signs of habitability."

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/s...ixel_Imaging_and_Spectroscopy_of_an_Exoplanet

 

[Trebuchet]

I expect you mean photos showing detail, but here is Wikipedia's List of directly imaged exoplanets.

 

[3point14]

I expect you mean photos showing detail, but here is Wikipedia's List of directly imaged exoplanets.

Bloody pedants...

Yes, you're right. It's the 25Km scale that amazes me. That's showing landmasses, cities, big industrial projects and all sorts of other things. It would be breathtaking.

 

[Trebuchet]

I should, of course, have read your link before posting!

 

[3point14]

I should, of course, have read your link before posting!

Well, no. Perhaps I should have put more info in the post.

And, to be fair, you were technically correct. Which is the best kind

 

[Speedskater]

A recent US TV science show on Pluto, talked about Hubble only getting photos with less than 100 pixel resolution.

 

[Sherkeu]

James Webb telescope may soon shed some 'light'! A million miles out in space taking photos with a big mirror sounds exciting!

My kid did a report on French Guiana and included a launch date then of 2019 from their ESA base, which had been moved from 2018, which was moved from some earlier date.
Now it is set for 2021. Wouldn't hold my breath for it on that date.

 

[sir drinks-a-lot]

Clickbait title says "photos" instead of images.

Can't wait for the James Webb.

 

[JeanTate]

~550 au is a very long way from home ...

 

[rjh01]

James Webb will not be launched for a long time. They keep on putting back the launch date. It is now scheduled for launch in 2021. But it was originally scheduled for launch in 2007! That was back in 1997.

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope

 

[3point14]

Clickbait title says "photos" instead of images.

Can't wait for the James Webb.

Well, I didn't think anyone would think David Bailey had shot off with a DSLR and snapped a few...