MOST (satellite)

MOST ( Microvariability & Oscillations of Stars or Microvariabilité & Oscillations parking Aires ) is a Canadian satellite to accurately measure the brightnesses of stars. At most It is a microsatellite that is substantially smaller in comparison to Hubble ACT1. He shall determine the oscillations of stars and extrasolar planets by changing the brightness of the system during a planetary circulation discover. The satellite with the help of a CCD sensor apparent brightness differences as small as one millionth of a like notice.

MOST was developed by the Canadian company Microsat Systems Canada, in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, the University of Toronto, Spectral Applied Research, Ceravolo Optical Systems and AMSAT. The satellite mass is only 60 kg, it is therefore also called a microsatellite.

A complementary satellite project to MOST is BRITE, next to Canada Austria and Poland are involved in it.

Mission start

MOST was launched on 30 June 2003 by a Russian Rockot rocket from Plesetsk into a sun-synchronous orbit at 820 km altitude. Thus, the solar cells can supply the satellite continuously with energy. MOST can observe a particular star for about two months without interruption. Seven years after the start, far beyond the planned life, he still provides research data and images.

Observations

• Procyon
• HD 209458 b
• HD 163899
• 55 Cancri e

Results

In 2004, the scientists published that the nearby star Procyon ( α Canis Minoris ) is not as strongly oscillates as originally believed. This led to a lively discussion among the Forschern2. 2006 was discovered with the telescope a previously unknown class of giant stars, the "slowly pulsating B supergiants " 3

Successor telescope

On February 25, 2013 Canada 's second Space Telescope NEOSSat was brought into orbit