The Sky Tonight

February 21, 2014

ESA selects planet-hunting PLATO mission
Paris (ESA) Feb 21, 2014
A space-based observatory to search for planets orbiting alien stars has been selected as ESA's third medium-class science mission. It is planned for launch by 2024. The PLATO - Planetary Transits and Oscillations of stars - mission was selected by ESA's Science Programme Committee for implementation as part of its Cosmic Vision 2015-25 Programme. The mission will address two key themes of Cosmic Vision: what are the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life, and how does the Solar ... read more

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