First Light for Planet Hunter ExTrA
Planet-hunting astronomers have a new and powerful tool to search for potentially habitable worlds.
ExTrA, just installed at ESO’s La Silla Observatory, uses three 0.6-m telescopes to look for tiny dips in the brightness​ of nearby red dwarf stars...
... caused by ​Earth-sized planets passing in front of their host stars.
​ExTrA focuses on red dwarfs because a transiting planet blocks out a relatively large proportion of light from such a small star.
Red dwarfs are common in the Milky Way and are expected to host many Earth-sized planets.
The novel design of ExTrA, together with the excellent conditions at La Silla, make it more sensitive than previous surveys.
The atmospheres of planets found by ExTrA will be studied with the ELT — and may reveal the first signs of life beyond Earth!
Produced by ESO, the European Southern Observatory. Reaching new heights in Astronomy.
Transcribed by ESO, translated by —