We finally have a target to point our telescopes at, and [can] dig much deeper into the workings of a rocky exoplanet, and what makes it tick, this planet is going to be a favorite target of astronomers for years to come. Zachory Berta-Thompson More Quotes by Zachory Berta-Thompson More Quotes From Zachory Berta-Thompson Our galaxy spans about 100,000 light-years, so this is definitely a very nearby solar neighborhood star. Zachory Berta-Thompson science We think it’s the first opportunity we have to point our telescopes at a rocky exoplanet and get that kind of detail, to be able to measure the color of its sunset, or the speed of its winds, and really learn how rocky planets work out there in the universe, those will be exciting observations to make. Zachory Berta-Thompson science If we find this pretty hot planet has managed to hang onto its atmosphere over the billions of years it’s been around, that bodes well for the long-term goal of studying cooler planets that could have life. Zachory Berta-Thompson science We didn’t know the planet’s period from one single event, but when we phased many of them together, this signal popped out. Zachory Berta-Thompson science
