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D.P. Bennett (University of Notre Dame), I. Bond (Massey University), E. Cheng (Conceptual Analytics, LLC), S. Friedman (Space Telescope Science Inst.), P. Garnavich (University of Notre Dame), B.S. Gaudi (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA), R. Gilliland (Space Telescope Science Inst.), A. Gould (Ohio State University), M. Greenhouse (NASA/Goddard), K. Griest (UC, San Diego), R. Kimble (NASA/Goddard), J. Lunine (University of Arizona), J. Mather (NASA/Goddard), D. Minniti (Universidad Catolica de Chile), M. Niedner (NASA/Goddard), B. Paczynski (Princeton University), S. Peale (UC, Santa Barbara), B. Rauscher (NASA/Goddard), M. Rich (UC, Los Angeles), K. Sahu (Space Telescope Science Inst.), D. Tenerelli (Lockheed Martin Space Systems), A. Udalski (Warsaw University), N. Woolf (University of Arizona), P. Yock (University of Auckland)
The Microlensing Planet Finder (MPF) is a proposed Discovery mission that will complete the first census of extrasolar planets with sensitivity to planets like those in our own solar system. MPF will employ a 1.1m aperture telescope, which images a 1.3 sq. deg. field-of-view in the near-IR, in order to detect extrasolar planets with the gravitational microlensing effect. MPF's sensitivity extends down to planets of 0.1 Earth masses, and MPF can detect Earth-like planets at all separations from 0.7AU to infinity. MPF's extrasolar planet census will provide critical information needed to understand the formation and frequency of extra solar planetary systems similar to our own.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.