Could telescopes eventually clearly show extra-solar planets?
Question:
My understanding of telescopes is that they have large lenses that improve focus, and more light-sensitive digital sensors that discern very faint objects. And positioning them in space avoids interference from the Earth's atmosphere.
Since both lenses and light-sensors are continually improving, is it plausible that we will eventually have telescopes that allow us to view planets 100s of light years away as clearly as those in our own solar system? Or is there a physical limit to how much we could improve telescopes?
Answer:
i think the day will come when we build a 'Hubble' type observatory on the moon...
and i suppose there is a limit, but we are a long way from that limit
Theory dictates that anything is possible, however.
The major limitation is background interference. Light emitted from an object disperses in all directions and creates diffused images of objects close to it. So getting views as clearly as we see earth or the moon is very unlikely unless we were to station a scope to view it from an angle that reduces the back ground interference. And, even then it wouldn't be as clear and the screen you looking at now.
Besides, we already have seen a planet around a distant star. It the in past two years or so I saw a picture of what appeared to be an object in orbit around a star. I can't tell you where to go to see it but you can check out the NASA site, it might be there.
That's my theory, anyway.
Of course they can build larger telescopes is space. The problem as I have understood it, is that the planets are so close to the much brighter star. The light from the star blinds the telescope. I don't know if this can be solved somehow.
Yes they can, and they are doing so.
The new 30-meter telescopes that are planned and in early stages of construction now should be able to image extrasolar planets directly.
The Large Binocular Telescope, an interferometer device, may be able to image some directly as well through its 22-metre effective aperture.
There is a physical limit but it is largely dependant on our limitations in technology at the time. I feel very confident if technology progresses at a steady pace, we will eventually overcome these limitations.
One problem, aside from resolving ability, when trying to direct view extra solar planets is the fact that they are very close to stars and the glow of the star basically engulfs the planet from our vantage point. It's like looking into a spotlight and trying to see a grain of sand placed next to it. Neverthe less, the light from the planet is there, we just need a way to seperate it from the light that comes directl from the star.
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