Life in Our Universe Season 1 Episode 2 The Planet Hunter: Kepler Spacecraft

Life in Our Universe is a captivating show that explores the vast expanse of the universe and investigates the possibility of life beyond planet Earth. Episode 2 of season one is entitled The Planet Hunter: Kepler Spacecraft.

The Kepler spacecraft was launched in 2009 with the mission of discovering exoplanets, or planets that orbit stars outside of our solar system. The episode takes us on a journey to discover how Kepler works and what kind of discoveries it has made over the years.

As we learn about the Kepler spacecraft, we are introduced to a team of dedicated scientists who have been working tirelessly to analyze the data that Kepler has been sending back to Earth. The episode showcases the intricate process of filtering out the noise and the false positives to identify the actual exoplanets. We witness how these scientists use sophisticated software to identify patterns in the data that indicate the presence of exoplanets.

The episode also covers some of the groundbreaking discoveries that Kepler has made. Kepler has discovered over 2,600 exoplanets, many of which are so-called "hot Jupiters", gas giants that orbit their star closer than Mercury orbits the Sun. The show highlights how these discoveries have challenged scientists' understanding of how planets form and evolve.

We also learn about the implications of the discoveries made by Kepler for the search for extraterrestrial life. In particular, the discovery of Earth-size planets in the habitable zone, where the conditions are right for liquid water to exist, has raised hopes that there could be life beyond our solar system.

Throughout the episode, we are treated to stunning visuals of the universe and the planets that have been discovered by Kepler. We also get to hear from some of the scientists who have been involved in the Kepler mission and learn about their passion for space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Overall, The Planet Hunter: Kepler Spacecraft is a fascinating look at one of the most important scientific missions of our time. The episode highlights how the Kepler spacecraft has changed our understanding of the universe and opened up new avenues for the search for life beyond planet Earth.