A Delta rocket,carrying the Keplar Telescope blasted off from Cape Canaveral Airforce Station in Florida on March 6th.The pioneering Keplar will survey a far corner of the galaxy called the Sygnus Lyra Constellation in hopes of finding other earthlike planets;planets with a perfect atmosphere to support life,not too hot, not too cold and of course lots of water in liquid form.
There will be about one hundred thousand planets within the telescope's field of view.It will observe them from 3 to 3 1/2 years and could be extended to as much as six years.Nasa scientists are looking for periodic dimming of stars. This indicates planets are passing in front of them and allows calculation of the planet's size and orbit.If the orbit takes a year,that is another parallel to our own planet.When such a planet/planets are observed they will send up a bigger telescope for much closer study.
Everyone knows that finding a planet like Earth is the Holy Grail of all astronomers.Some people like to think that we are the only living beings in the vast universe.How lonely.
I like to believe there is life in some form,inhabiting at least a few of the billions of planets in the universe.
The truth really is out there.
