The
Kepler telescope successfully launched Friday and is now in orbit. It is in a positioning phase where it'll trail behind our planet to avoid gravitational affects on the telescope, then peer for 3 years into a region of space. This telescope will be able to actually image Earth-sized planets orbiting around some distant stars. We'll be able to discern their size, shape, mass, orbit, atmosphere (if any), and a whole host of other properties.
This is one of the most exciting telescope launches. It will be the largest telescope outside of Earth orbit, with a 1.4 meter primary mirror. That is until the
James Webb telescope launches in 2013 with an unbelievably huge 6.5 meter mirror!
Definitely exciting times for any exoplanetary scientists.
Also, Planck is scheduled for launch next month which will give us the most accurate reading of the cosmic microwave background radiation. Another really exciting event.
This stuff should hold me over until the LHC is turned back on.
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