This requires very precise control of a telescope's mirrors in real-time that can correct for any source of interference. Moreover, detecting an Earth-like planet demands an extremely precise optical quality of 10s of picometers (pm)-about the size of a hydrogen atom. This is essential since a misalignment between mirrors or a change in the mirror's shape-i.e., which leads to instability in the telescope's optics-can result in glare that obscures the detection of smaller rocky exoplanets. Deformable mirrors are an essential component of a coronagraph, as they can correct for the tiniest of imperfections in the telescope and remove any remaining starlight contamination. These ground-based arrays will combine 30-meter primary mirrors, advanced spectrometers, and coronographs (instruments that block out starlight). This is likely to change with cutting-edge telescopes like James Webb, as well as next-generation arrays like the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), and the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Unfortunately, it is very difficult to resolve smaller, rocky planets that orbit closer to their parent stars-which is where Earth-like planets are expected to be found-due to the overpowering glare from their stars. This light is then analyzed with spectrometers to determine its chemical composition, allowing astronomers to constrain habitability. This is known as the direct imaging method, where astronomers study light reflected directly from an exoplanet atmosphere and/or surface. To do this effectively, scientists need to be able to observe exoplanets directly. However, to date, most exoplanets have been discovered using indirect methods. Thanks to advances in instrumentation, advanced analytics, and data-sharing, the field has been transitioning from discovery to characterization. Finding habitable planets among these many candidates is crucial to addressing one of the greatest mysteries of all time: are we alone in the universe? The field of exoplanet studies has exploded in recent years, with 5,539 confirmed candidates in 4,129 systems and over 10,000 more awaiting confirmation. Tyler Groff from NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center (GSFC)-the co-chairs of the DM Technology Roadmap working group-Boston Micromachines (BMC) founder and CEO Paul Bierden, and Adaptive Optics Associates (AOX) Program Manager Kevin King. NASA is pursuing the development of adaptive optics through its Deformable Mirror Technology project, which is carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech and sponsored by NASA's Astrophysics Division Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT) and the NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs. This will allow astronomers to obtain spectra directly from their atmospheres and characterize them to see if they are habitable. This includes the study of exoplanets, which next-generation telescopes will be able to observe directly using coronographs and self-adjusting mirrors. Since 1970, NASA and the ESA have launched more than 90 space telescopes into orbit, and 29 of these are still active, so it's safe to say we've got that covered.īut in the coming years, a growing number of ground-based telescopes will incorporate adaptive optics (AOs) that will allow them to perform cutting-edge astronomy. For astronomers, there are only two ways to overcome this problem: send telescopes to space or equip telescopes with mirrors that can adjust to compensate for atmospheric distortion.
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