planet hunting for dummies

[vladius]

hey... if there are any real astronomers out there, maybe you could answer for me: if there was a way to block out most or all of the light of a target star, wouldnt it be easier to see any planets taht happend to be orbiting that star?

 

[alokmohan]

Little problem .How can you do it?

 

[kmarinas86]

NASA is exploring the possibility of using a pin hole camera in space. Essential, it's a large shade to block out star light to make detecting planets easier.<br />http://www.google.com/search?q=pin+hole+camera+NASA

 

[vladius]

how can you do it? <br /><br />i was thinking about nano machines that crawl along the surface of the main reflector and are maneuved to sit right on top of the spot where the star light hits. this effectively blacks out that one spot. you arent trying to stop the starlight, you cant make a star not shine, but you can 'ignore' its light. this is something akin to lowering the sun visor in your car, making everything around you easier to see. ... that pinhole camera sounds cool tho...

 

[vladius]

that pinhole concept is awsome. i had thought about that before, but my idea was a telescope with a large mirror, but pinhole apeture. this.. way beyond that. hope it gets some good funding.