Worlds largest Photometer

Kepler as it is named. It is a spacecraft with a specialized telescope.

This is a photo of a litho off my drafting table.
A Nasa press release. A fascinating project.
Kepler launches in 2008

Kepler Mission: A Search for Habitable Planets
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Kepler will stare at one large area of the sky a little larger than an open hand at arm's length in the constellation Cygnus.
It will stare continuously for 4 years---virtually never blinking---making brightness measurements of 100,000 stars every 30 minutes.

42 ccd sensors
Focal plane array;
>100 sq. deg. FOV

http://kepler.nasa.gov/about/

Hi Rick,

One would think with all the technology available, that one half this size could be produced, but it sure looks cool!

Jim B.

wow, cool!!