< Back to previous page

Project

Self-calibrated interferometry for exoplanet spectroscopy (SCIFY). (ERC SCIFY)

Imaging inner planetary systems with high-precision interferometry

Terrestrial worlds like the inner planets in the solar system are plentiful and diverse in the universe. Exploring the huge diversity of exoplanet composition is one of the most compelling quests of modern astronomy. The intense light from the parent star which washes out the exoplanet’s faint light and the low angular resolution of telescopes make direct exoplanet observation challenging. The EU-funded SCIFY project plans to build a new high-precision interferometric instrument dedicated to imaging the inner region of nearby planetary systems. It will be installed on the European Very Large Telescope Interferometer facility. Its novelty is that it will 'turn off' the light of a star by interferometry to better see the surrounding exoplanets. The instrument will be a key technological precursor for a future space mission that will allow the search for traces of life on the surface of exoplanets.

Date:1 Oct 2020 →  Today
Keywords:exoplanet spectroscopy, intraferometry, interplanetary systems
Disciplines:Astronomy and astrophysics