On Monday, Jan 4, NASA/Ames Kepler Mission scientists will be presenting findings and analysis of the 1st batch of data and images obtained from the Kepler Space Telescope at a press conference during annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society being held in Washington DC.
Among the potential revelations is the discovery of a Earth-like world revolving around a star similar to the Sun inside the habitable zone. The chart to the left displays the exoplanets found to date w/ comparison to Sol planetary system.
In the chart above, all of the orange dots represents exoplanets found by other telescopes both Earth-based and space-based. The Kepler Mission is expected to more than double the number of known exoplanets, approximately 465 planets, circling other star system. More importantly, a larger percentage of these newly discovered exoplanets should be found in the habitable zone closer to Earth's mass. The Kepler Space Telescope was specially designed to observe lower mass planets as they transit in front of their host stars. The telescope's sensitive light detectore will be observing approximately 145,000 main sequence stars located in the region of space between the Cygnus and Lyra constellations.
In the last month of 2009, astronomers have already announced the discovery of a fiery water world revolving around GJ 1214, a low mass red dwarf, and three exoplanets around 61 Virginis located in the Virgo constellation. The pace at which new exoplanets are being discovered has been intensifying in 2009 and will likely be accelerated by the Kepler Mission in 2010.
The only question then is once a planet resembling Earth is found in the habitable zone of another star, what will humans here on Earth do next?
Here is information on the press conference scheduled for Jan 4: NASA to Unveil Kepler Space Telescope Discoveries.
Update: I want to thank all those who helped me make the rec list! Very briefly! But hey at least I got my 15 secs! ;) LOL!