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COROT surprises a year after launch
December 21, 2007The space-borne telescope, COROT (Convection, Rotation and planetary Transits), has just completed its first year in orbit. The observatory has brought in surprises after over 300 days of scientific observations.
Pioneering precision measurement over long periods of time COROT is observing a large number of stars, up to 12 000, simultaneously, at a very high precision - unprecedented in ground-based astronomy. The key to the high-precision is that the observations can be carried out over very long periods of time - up to 150 days. This is being done for the first time ever.
The satellite measures variations in the light output of these stars down to one part in a million. This level of precision allows scientists to study the many ways in which stars vary. The pulsations are caused either due to unknown physical processes in the stellar interior, or by objects such as planets passing in front of the stellar surface.
A treasure trove of information for stellar seismology
To date, 30 stars have been observed as part of the study of stellar seismology, the study of the miniscule changes in light output from a star caused by acoustic waves travelling through the star. The pattern of the changes tells us a lot about what is happening deep inside the star. The stars observed by COROT range from objects similar to our own Sun to older or more massive stars. The observation period varies between 20 and 150 days of essentially uninterrupted study.
After a preliminary analysis, the measurements have revealed very exciting results
Research into solar-type oscillations is one of the mission's key objectives. Such oscillations have already been found in two stars that are very similar to our sun - first in HD49933 and then in HD181420. The variations are very weak in amplitude and given their short coherence time (the duration for which a particular wave persists on the stellar surface), they are very hard to detect and measure.
COROT's discovers its second exoplanet
As a planet passes in front of a star, there is a dip in the light output from the star, which is detected by COROT. Since many other processes can mimic the signature observed, to confirm the presence of a planet, a large confirmation programme with supplementary ground-based observations is necessary to prove the existence of a planet.
Although COROT observes thousands of light curves, the pace of discovery is governed by ground-based observations.
In the third sequence of COROT observations, a likely time for the transit of COROT-exo-2b in front of its star was worked out and an analysis of the light curve was carried out in real-time to confirm the find. Observations were carried out simultaneously at the observatory of Haute Provence in France, and at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, confirming the existence of the planet and its mass was measured.
COROT-exo-2b orbits a star similar to our Sun, somewhat more massive and cooler, but more active. It is located about 800 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Serpens. COROT-exo-2b is a giant planet, 1.4 times larger and 3.5 times more massive than Jupiter. Its average density of 1.5 grams per cubic centimetre is also somewhat higher than Jupiter's. This massive planet orbits its star in a little less than two days from a distance of about six times the stellar radius.
"Christmas is early this year," for ESA's COROT Project Scientist, Malcolm Fridlund. "The release of the first data set has already had the science team working hard. The quality of the data is fantastic and the results will change both, how we see exoplanets and how we understand stars."
European Space Agency
To date, 30 stars have been observed as part of the study of stellar seismology, the study of the miniscule changes in light output from a star caused by acoustic waves travelling through the star. The pattern of the changes tells us a lot about what is happening deep inside the star. The stars observed by COROT range from objects similar to our own Sun to older or more massive stars. The observation period varies between 20 and 150 days of essentially uninterrupted study.
After a preliminary analysis, the measurements have revealed very exciting results
Research into solar-type oscillations is one of the mission's key objectives. Such oscillations have already been found in two stars that are very similar to our sun - first in HD49933 and then in HD181420. The variations are very weak in amplitude and given their short coherence time (the duration for which a particular wave persists on the stellar surface), they are very hard to detect and measure.
COROT's discovers its second exoplanet
As a planet passes in front of a star, there is a dip in the light output from the star, which is detected by COROT. Since many other processes can mimic the signature observed, to confirm the presence of a planet, a large confirmation programme with supplementary ground-based observations is necessary to prove the existence of a planet.
Although COROT observes thousands of light curves, the pace of discovery is governed by ground-based observations.
In the third sequence of COROT observations, a likely time for the transit of COROT-exo-2b in front of its star was worked out and an analysis of the light curve was carried out in real-time to confirm the find. Observations were carried out simultaneously at the observatory of Haute Provence in France, and at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, confirming the existence of the planet and its mass was measured.
COROT-exo-2b orbits a star similar to our Sun, somewhat more massive and cooler, but more active. It is located about 800 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Serpens. COROT-exo-2b is a giant planet, 1.4 times larger and 3.5 times more massive than Jupiter. Its average density of 1.5 grams per cubic centimetre is also somewhat higher than Jupiter's. This massive planet orbits its star in a little less than two days from a distance of about six times the stellar radius.
"Christmas is early this year," for ESA's COROT Project Scientist, Malcolm Fridlund. "The release of the first data set has already had the science team working hard. The quality of the data is fantastic and the results will change both, how we see exoplanets and how we understand stars."
European Space Agency
COROT Current Events and COROT News RSSSimulation suggests rocky exoplanet has bizarre atmosphere
So accustomed are we to the sunshine, rain, fog and snow of our home planet that we find it next to impossible to imagine a different atmosphere and other forms of precipitation.
First solid evidence for a rocky exoplanet
The longest set of HARPS measurements ever made has firmly established the nature of the smallest and fastest-orbiting exoplanet known, CoRoT-7b, revealing its mass as five times that of Earth's.
Missing planets attest to destructive power of stars' tides
During the last two decades, astronomers have found hundreds of planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. New research indicates they might have found even more except for one thing - some planets have fallen into their stars and simply no longer exist.
European team finds smallest transiting extrasolar planet ever
The CoRoT satellite has discovered a planet only twice as large as the Earth orbiting a star slightly smaller than the Sun. It is the smallest extrasolar planet (planet outside our solar system) whose radius has ever been measured.
COROT finds exoplanet orbiting Sun-like star
A team of European scientists working with COROT have discovered an exoplanet orbiting a star slightly more massive than the Sun. After just 555 days in orbit, the mission has now observed more than 50 000 stars and is adding significantly to our knowledge of the fundamental workings of stars.
Solar flares set the Sun quaking
Data from the ESA/NASA spacecraft SOHO shows clearly that powerful starquakes ripple around the Sun in the wake of mighty solar flares that explode above its surface. The observations give solar physicists new insight into a long-running solar mystery and may even provide a way of studying other stars.
Scientists Model a Cornucopia of Earth-sized Planets
In the Star Wars movies fictional planets are covered with forests, oceans, deserts, and volcanoes. But new models from a team of MIT, NASA, and Carnegie scientists begin to describe an even wider range of Earth-size planets that astronomers might actually be able to find in the near future.
Water, water everywhere -- on an extrasolar planet
Scientists report the first conclusive discovery of the presence of water vapour in the atmosphere of a planet beyond our Solar System.
COROT space mission ready to search out new planets and map the interior of stars
The COROT mission is scheduled for launch on the 27th December 2006, from Baikonur in Kazakhstan.
Hubble finds 16 candidate extrasolar planets far across our Galaxy
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has discovered 16 extrasolar planet candidates that are orbiting a variety of distant stars. In accomplishing this, Hubble looked farther into our Milky Way galaxy than has ever successfully been done before in searching for extrasolar planets.
More COROT Current Events and COROT News Articles
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Corot to Monet: French Landscape Painting (National Gallery) by Sarah Herring (Author), Antonio Mazzotta (Contributor) By the late 18th century, the practice of painting outdoors (en plein air) was widespread, especially in Italy, where picturesque views of Tivoli and the Campagna were irresistible to French and British artists. Fifty years later in France, the Barbizon group––including Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Théodore Rousseau, and Charles-Francois Daubigny––eagerly escaped the studio to paint landscapes, rivers, and beach scenes of their native land. These painters were a crucial influence on a new generation of... | |
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Corot by Keith Roberts (Author) hardcover, 44 pp & 51 plates; biography & works of Camille Corot. | |
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Corot: The Poetry of Landscape (New Horizons) by Vincent Pomarede (Author), Gerard De Wallens (Author), Gerard de Wallens (Author) Corot has been considered many things: a precursor of Impressionism, with his sophisticated plays of light; a Romantic for his lyrical landscapes; a Realist, since he painted directly from nature. His devotion to nature brought him close to the Realists, and his sensitive studies of light and shade, often painted in the open air, and the freedom of his brushwork has a marked influence on the Impressonists. There is more to Corot than landscape - his poetic evocation of classical myth, the sensuos charm of his portraits of women and his dream-like vision of women. This study of Corot includes extracts from journals and newpapers. | |
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Corot (Drawing Gallery) by Arlette Sérullaz (Author) Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (1796 - 1875) was the leading figure of the Barbizon school in France in the mid-nineteenth century and a pivotal figure in landscape painting. This book shows the Louvre's collection of drawings by Corot, the largest in the world, and also examines the principal artistic phases of this artist who considered drawing the very essence of art. | |
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In the Forest of Fontainebleau: Painters and Photographers from Corot to Monet (National Gallery Of Art, Washington) by Kimberly Jones (Author), Simon Kelly (Author), Sarah Kennel (Author), Helga Aurisch (Author) The Forest of Fontainebleau, located about 50 miles southeast of Paris, held a singular place in 19th-century art. Variously called “savage,” “wild,” “romantic,” and “beautiful” by visitors, Fontainebleau’s topography was viewed in many ways that reflected the sensibilities of the time.
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Masters of Art: Corot by Madeleine Hours (Author) Corot said that he kept a copy of all his works in his eyes and in his heart. This remark sums up for us the essence of the artist's genius - his gift for seeing and for capturing the emotional quality of what he saw. Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1795-1875) was one of the greatest artists of the 19th century. In the major museums of the world, people stand entranced before his silvery, poetic landscapes, his quiet, portraitlike studies of pensive women, the miraculously serene and tender renderings of nature and persons in his prints and lithographs. In this volume, a noted French art historian - aided by 92 magnificent illustrations, 40 in full color - tells the story of Corot's life and the development of his art. |
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Ville d'Avray Art Poster Print by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, 29x23 by Art.com Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your... | |
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The Twilight Girls Starring: Gaby Morlay, Henri Guisol, Marie-Hélène Arnaud, Estella Blain, Christine Carère Directed By: André Hunebelle Also With: Paul Cotteret (Cinematographer), Jean Feyte (Editor), Lucien Masson (Producer), René Thévenet (Producer), Arlette Reinerg (Writer), Jacques Lancien (Writer), Jean Lambertie (Writer) | |
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Remo Tulliani Men's Corot Belts,Brown,40 by Remo Tulliani | |
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Corot: Ville D'Avray cross-stitch pattern by The Craft Connection Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot painted landscapes that were impressionist while still looking very real. Our cross-stitch pattern uses 90 DMC colors for a rich accurate rendition of Corot's painting. If you don't have a large stash of DMC colors, it's more cost-effective to purchase our kit which contains all the threads you'll need. Finished size approximately 14" by 10". |
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