Skip to main content

The Search for Extrasolar Planets

  • Chapter
Intelligent Life in the Universe

Part of the book series: Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics ((ASTROBIO))

  • 184 Accesses

Abstract

Only a few years ago, our knowledge of the existence of planets outside the solar system rested primarily on theoretical investigations. But since 1995, this has changed rapidly, with the discovery of more than 90 planets by June 2002. Unfortunately, so far, all of these planets, which orbit around main sequence stars, are of the Jupiter type and cannot be seats of life. In addition, five planets were discovered around pulsars, but here again the conditions for life are unfavorable. Nevertheless, great advances in instrumentation are expected to eventually result in the detection of Earth-like terrestrial planets. But how are such planets to be found?

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ulmschneider, P. (2003). The Search for Extrasolar Planets. In: Intelligent Life in the Universe. Advances in Astrobiology and Biogeophysics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43212-9_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43212-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-43214-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-43212-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics