Why Scientists Want Blurry Photos With This Telescope

The video discusses the CHEOPS mission, a European Space Agency project aimed at studying exoplanets. It highlights the challenges of detecting exoplanets due to their distance and the brightness of their stars. The video explains the methods used for detection, such as radial velocity and transit photometry, and the advantages of space-based observations. CHEOPS focuses on studying known exoplanets to understand their composition and potential habitability, particularly targeting Super Earths. The mission's unique orbit allows continuous observation without interference from Earth's atmosphere.

What is the primary mission of the CHEOPS satellite?

• To capture clear images of distant galaxies

• To study the composition and formation of known exoplanets

• To discover new exoplanets

• To monitor solar activity

Why are exoplanets difficult to observe directly?

• They are located in distant galaxies

• They move too quickly across the sky

• They are hidden by the brightness of their stars

• They are too small compared to stars

What method did astronomers use to discover the first exoplanet, 51 Pegasi B?

• Gravitational microlensing

• Radial velocity method

• Direct imaging

• Transit photometry

What is the orbit type of the CHEOPS satellite?

• Lunar orbit

• Heliosynchronous orbit

• Geostationary orbit

• Low Earth orbit

What is the purpose of the blurry images captured by CHEOPS?

• To reduce data storage requirements

• To increase the number of pixels capturing starlight

• To focus on distant galaxies

• To avoid capturing unwanted light from the Sun

How does CHEOPS determine the composition of a planet's atmosphere?

• By observing the planet's magnetic field

• By analyzing the planet's color

• By measuring the planet's gravitational pull

• By isolating the spectrum of light reflected by the planet

Why is it beneficial for CHEOPS to be in space rather than on Earth?

• To avoid atmospheric distortion and allow continuous observation

• To avoid interference from other satellites

• To be closer to the stars it observes

• To reduce the cost of operations