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Detecting Earth-Like Extra-Solar Planets from Antarctica by Gravitational Microlensing

Philip Yock
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Abstract

Earth-like extra-solar planets may be detected with 1-2m class telescopes using the gravitational microlensing technique. The essential requirement is the ability to be able to carry out continuous observations of the galactic bulge. A telescope situated at Dome A or Dome C in Antarctica would be eminently suitable. Two possible observing strategies are described here. One employs a 1m visible (V and I passbands) telescope, the other a 2m wide-field near infrared telescope. Either telescope could allow a rough measurement of the abundance of Earth-like planets in the Milky Way to be made in a few years. Useful measurements could also be made on stellar atmospheres.

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Philip Yock. 2005-08-29. Detecting Earth-Like Extra-Solar Planets from Antarctica by Gravitational Microlensing. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0508603

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