The Galactic Exoplanet Survey Telescope (GEST)
astro-ph
/ Authors
D. P. Bennett, J. Bally, I. Bond, E. Cheng, K. Cook, D. Deming, P. Garnavich, K. Griest, D. Jewitt, N. Kaiser
and 15 more authors
T. Lauer, J. Lunine, G. Luppino, J. Mather, D. Minniti, S. Peale, S. Rhie, J. Rhodes, J. Schneider, G. Sonneborn, R. Stevenson, C. Stubbs, D. Tenerelli, N. Woolf, P. Yock
/ Abstract
The Galactic Exoplanet Survey Telescope (GEST) will observe a 2 square degree field in the Galactic bulge to search for extra-solar planets using a gravitational lensing technique. This gravitational lensing technique is the only method employing currently available technology that can detect Earth-mass planets at high signal-to-noise, and can measure the frequency of terrestrial planets as a function of Galactic position. GEST's sensitivity extends down to the mass of Mars, and it can detect hundreds of terrestrial planets with semi-major axes ranging from 0.7 AU to infinity. GEST will be the first truly comprehensive survey of the Galaxy for planets like those in our own Solar System.