Kepler telescope makes quick discovery

[stefan]

Kepler telescope makes quick discovery
By Shelby Lin Erdman
CNN

(CNN) -- NASA's Kepler space telescope has already made a discovery, and its science operations aren't even officially under way yet.


NASA scientists who put the telescope through a 10-day test after its March 6 launch said this week that Kepler is working well. Its ability to detect minute changes in light has enabled scientists to determine that a planet orbiting a distant star has an atmosphere, shows only one side to its sun and is so hot it glows.

Kepler's ability to take measurements that precise at such a great distance "proves we can find Earth-size planets," William Borucki, Kepler's principal science investigator told reporters at a recent briefing.

The powerful scope is looking at thousands of stars in its vision field in the Milky Way on a 3

[Deathcricket]

[img]Its ability to detect minute changes in light has enabled scientists to determine that a planet orbiting a distant star has an atmosphere, shows only one side to its sun and is so hot it glows.

What kind of gases would be in a 4000 degree atmosphere?