The French space agency CNES leads a group that is designing COROT (COnvection, ROtation and Transits). This small Earth-orbiting telescope will likely be the first space telescope dedicated to the search for Earth-like planets. Most other planet hunting so far has been done with ground telescopes or, when space telescopes have been use, time has been limited.

COROT would detect planets when they happen to pass in front of their host star, an event known as a transit, which causes a dip in the brightness of the star.

The telescope is only 27 centimeters (10.6 inches) in diameter. Its value would lie in the fact that it would sit above the blurring effects of Earth's atmosphere and that it would be devoted to the task of exoplanet hunting. Some stars will be studied for five months, to build strong signals that can then be picked out.

COROT participants include Spain, Austria, Belgium, ESTEC, Italy and the European Space Agency (ESA). Promoters say it will launch in 2004.

Future Missions to Search for Earth-like Planets
COROT | Eddington | Kepler | Darwin | Terrestrial Planet Finder | SIM

Related News
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Discovery of Early Land Life Points to Stellar Possibilities

Related Links
COROT Telescope Home Page
List of other planet-search missions