An Irish scientist is one of the leaders of a new mission that has been adopted by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Professor Tom Ray, based at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) is part of the Ariel mission, which involves using a space telescope to study atmospheres of distant exoplanets.
An exoplanet is a planet outside our solar system.
The DIAS is the world’s second institute for advanced studies, attracting academics from all over the world in the fields of Celtic studies, Theoretical Physics and Cosmic Physics.
The DIAS has previously completed successful work on the James Webb space telescope, which is due to become NASA’s flagship mission when it is launched in October next year.
In conjunction with European partners, the DIAS has been working on the Ariel telescope since 2016.
Earlier this week, the ESA approved Ariel for launch in 2029 when it will be dispatched to an observing position approximately 1.5 million kilometres from earth.
The telescope will examine the gases that surround exoplanets with the aim of determining how they formed and evolved over time.
Prof Ray, principal investigator for the mission said Ariel will help scientists better understand the solar system.
Prof Ray’s team in the DIAS and University College Dublin are responsible for the telescope’s optical and infrared filters which split light from exoplanets and their stars into different wavelengths.
“We are delighted that Ariel has been formally adopted by the ESA and now has the green light to launch in 2029. This is an exciting achievement for scientists here in Ireland and across Europe,” he said.
