New Space Telescope Could Search for Both Exoplanets and Dark Energy

Europe's proposed Euclid mission would use a microlensing technique to hunt both ET and dark energy

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 11.20.2009 at 1:42 pm 11 Comments

Dark Energy Hunter: Europe's Euclid space telescope could pick up on distorted light from distant galaxies, and pick up clues on the existence of dark energy. S. Colombi (IAP), CFHT Team

Dark energy may not have much in common with aliens, unless there's a flotilla of freaky monoliths out there with really weird physical properties. But astrophysicists hope to build a two-in-one space telescope that can search for signs of dark energy along with exoplanets.

Europe's proposed Euclid space telescope would use a microlensing technique to detect the bending of light as it travels through clumps of dense matter. That would allow scientists to map out the locations of galaxies scattered across the universe, which in turn may reveal more about the role of dark energy as a theorized unseen force behind the universal expansion. Some cosmologists consider dark energy such a bugaboo that they have tried coming up with alternative explanations.

The very same technique could also pinpoint the light-bending effect of distant stars and planets, and help astronomers find new exoplanets that could potentially harbor extraterrestrial life. Folding in the search for ET may also prove more compelling for getting the space telescope funded, given that even the Vatican has recently begun pondering the cosmic complications of aliens.

Both scientific investigations require a space telescope that can stare patiently at a large swath of sky, and so Euclid fits the bill almost perfectly. But Astrobiology Magazine notes that both planet-hunters and cosmologists would have to share their viewing time with the telescope, and probably also financial support.

Still, even shared viewing time beats no viewing time. Astrophysicists estimate that 3 months of observations with Euclid could survey 200 million stars and perhaps find 10 planets resembling our own planet Earth. That hinges upon the European Space Agency's review of Euclid and five other similar missions, with only two slated to make the cut for launch.

[via Astrobiology Magazine]

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11 Comments

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EarthScientist

11/20/09 at 10:28 pm

We do not need Dark Energy exploration,Return the money please and go home.
There are aliens all over this planet,you folks are just not able to pay attention.
Every one of your original families were brought here in lifters,no creation events here,guaranteed.
Sure,there are Animus fields here that cannot show their genetics on top,but most of the people have genetics you older folks usually did not ever see here when you were young who mix in everywhere I am a person who can point out most of them very easily,you are just not paying attention,as I said.
Folks from my science contingent are over-run on our own planet,but the fight is not over yet,there are alot of people dropping dead,unexplained,except for some who know whats up.

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Jedigeek93

11/21/09 at 12:21 am

would you mind telling me what the hell your talking about?

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EarthScientist

11/21/09 at 12:40 am

Jedigeek, There is no need to search for the alien folks,even at some point your family was also an alien.
I do not gest about anything I feed as I have a crtain security clearence that requires me to know information the general citizenry does not ever get,although better sleuthing may get you some connective dots.
We do not need any goofy space telescopes or colliders either,people in the know just laugh and laugh, I guarantee that.

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bdhoro87

11/21/09 at 1:04 pm

EarthScientist, dude, lay off the acid, nothing you've said even hints at making sense. Ofcourse there is a need to search for alien life, we need telescopes, colliders, and anything we can come up with in order to do what mankind has done for millenia, look up to the skies at the vast limits of our knowledge, and to move those limits ever further away.

Hey how did this thing get named after Euclid anyway? Doesn't most of this research do away with classical geometry?

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Dane619

11/21/09 at 4:15 pm

wow earthscienist......you're cool

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thor0997

11/22/09 at 12:35 pm

Earth Scientist has a "security clearence" but no basic english.

Yeaaa either a Scientologist quack, or a bad trip, which are the same things basicly.

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Azorus

11/23/09 at 3:38 am

My bet is on Scientologist.

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striker223

11/23/09 at 4:25 am

no, i'm pretty sure thor is right- they're about the same. google "operation clam bake". i'll probably get hunted down and killed for posting this.

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I_Wonder...

11/23/09 at 10:46 am

I hope he doesnt think that "illegal aliens" means people from outer space....

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V3RTIGO

11/23/09 at 12:12 pm

What relevance does dark energy have to do with space exploration? Furthermore, what will it do for us to know about it?

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BaPef

11/25/09 at 4:33 pm

@V3RTIGO Mostly understanding it would further our understanding of the universe allowing us to better understand that which we already pretend to know and that is never a bad thing. Through understanding we gain knowledge through knowledge we gain wisdom and with wisdom we can find enlightenment and peace, or new and novel ways to kill each othe... one of the two.

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