Launched on Aug.25, NASA's fourth and final Great Observatory will soon set its high-tech infrared eyes on, among other celestial objects, the dusty discs surrounding stars where planets are born.

While other ground- and space-based telescopes have spied these swirling "circumstellar" discs, both young and old, they have missed middle-aged discs for various reasons. The Space Infrared Telescope Facility's unprecedented sensitivity and resolution will allow it to fill in this gap and in the process answer fundamental questions regarding how planets, including those resembling Earth, may form.

"With the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, we anticipate seeing many planetary discs at all stages of development," says Dr. Karl Stapelfeldt of JPL, a scientist with the mission. "By studying how they change over time, we may be able to determine what conditions favor planet formation."

Related Links Space Infrared Telescope Facility SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express EXO WORLDS First Extrasolar Planets, Then Extrasolar Moonss Paris (ESA) Oct 09, 2003 ESA is now planning a mission that can detect moons around planets outside our Solar System, those orbiting other stars. --------------------------------------------------------- New from Telescopes.com! It's new. And it's downright terrific! Celestron's CPC Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is the scope you've been waiting for! It offers new alignment technology, advanced engineering, and bold new design at a new, low price! In fact, Celestron's Professional Computerized (CPC) scope with revolutionary SkyAlign Alignment Technology redefines everything that amateur astronomers are looking for. It offers quick and simple alignment, GPS technology, unsurpassed optical quality, ease of use, advanced ergonomics, enhanced computerization and, most important, affordability. Want to view M-31 tonight? One button takes you there! Shop for telescopes online at Telescopes.com! today! ------------------------------------------------------------ SUPERPOWERS US Warned Not To Ignore Chinese Military Advances NUKEWARS The Indo-Israel Phalcon Radar System Deal: Pakistan's Likely Response Raytheon To Replace Russian Plutonium Reactors With Coal Fired Plants Titan Wins $300 Million Defense Threat Reduction Agency Contract Northrop Grumman's ICBM Program Achieves CMMI Level 3 For Systems Engineering MISSILE NEWS ATK Successfully Tests a Next-Generation Variable Thrust Solid Rocket Motor Israel Firm Assiting Raytheon To Equip Commercial Jets Against Missiles Northrop Grumman Buys Completes Buyout Of Xontech To Boost Missile Defense Offerings 18th Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer Ready To Be Commissioned MISSILE DEFENSE Lockheed Martin Wins $812M Deal For Sea-Based Missile Defense SAIC Wins Space-Based Radar System Integration Contract Orbital Receives $11M Order For Minotaur Space Launch Vehicle USAF French Government Selects Air Defense Radar Team AEROSPACE Wright Flyer Takes To The Sky In Las Vegas Aurora Builds Low-speed Wind Tunnel Yeager To Retire From Military Flying After October Airshow Yeager To Retire From Military Flying After October Airshow UAV NEWS BAE Systems and AAI Corp Form TEAM SHADOW In Australian UAV Surveillance Bid STARA Awarded US Army Contract to Deliver Small Munitions From UAV Sending Up A Round Of BattleCam Fire Scout On Final Approach For First Shipboard Landings IRAQ WARS MILTECH The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement