Project UMBRAS
| Project Gallery | Project Diary |
UMBRAS (Umbral Missions Blocking Radiating Astronomical Sources) is a technique and a class of space science missions. The UMBRAS goal is direct observation of planets around other stars. 'Direct observation' means images, photometry, and spectroscopy, as contrasted to the measurement of stellar reflex motion and variations in starlight flux used to demonstrate the discovery of extrasolar planets found so far. A group of Astronomers from the Professional Astronomical Community approached us in December, 2003 asking for help with designing and testing their design for a new telescope.
UMBRAS uses a companion spacecraft with a space telescope placed far from Earth. The companion spacecraft carries an occulting screen designed to reduce the glare from a star so that a search for planets may be conducted around them. The object is to get pictures which show planets next to stars and moving around or with them through space, which has never been done before.
We will be helping UMBRAS Project Planners by conducting a field test of their design and specifications. Findings may be published in Sky and Telescope in the near future. For more information visit the UMBRAS website.