This is the Golden Age of Exoplanetology and Planetary Science. For this year, we might see at least more than 60 new Exoplanets yet to be discovered before the end of 2008. The chart shows the number of exoplanets discovered each year.
With Planet-hunters getting better and better at their craft of planet-detection, armed with better telescopes at higher and higher resolutions, and more powerful data-crunching computers, there's no reason why the planet-hunters would score lower than last year's 60 exoplanet discoveries. As of writing, we currently have 3, but as more and more amateur astronomers are jumping in on the hunt, we will see an explosion of new extrasolar planets to be added in the Exoplanet Catalog, and more planet-hunters to be added in history!
The big fish is a small rocky earth-like exoplanet somewhere in the habitable zone. I am hopeful that at least one of them will be snagged this year.
So what are you waiting for?! Let's join the hunt!
Data Source: http://exoplanet.eu
Chart Engine: Google Chart API
No comments:
Post a Comment