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Which telescope first directly imaged an exoplanet?
Quick Answer
The first widely recognized direct image of an exoplanet was obtained in 2004 with the Very Large Telescope in Chile. The planet was 2M1207b, orbiting a brown dwarf.
The Full Story
Direct imaging of exoplanets is extremely difficult because stars are so much brighter than planets. In 2004, astronomers using the Very Large Telescope in Chile obtained the first widely recognized direct image of an exoplanet, 2M1207b. The object orbits a brown dwarf about 170 light-years away. This landmark showed that planets could be studied not only by indirect methods like transits, but also by imaging in special cases.
Key Facts
1.First direct image: 2004
2.Planet: 2M1207b
3.Telescope: Very Large Telescope
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The first real picture of a planet around another star."
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