Automated Planet Finder, Robotic telescope at Mount Hamilton, United States
The Automated Planet Finder features a 2.4-meter optical telescope connected to the Levy spectrograph for analyzing stellar light patterns at Lick Observatory.
The University of California launched this $12.37 million telescope project in 2013 after receiving initial funding of $10 million for its development.
The telescope contributes to astronomical research by examining approximately 1,000 nearby stars within 100 light years from Earth over a ten-year period.
The facility operates every night throughout the year, automatically targeting predetermined stars to detect gravitational effects from potential Earth-like planets.
The spectrograph measures stellar velocity changes as small as one meter per second, revealing the presence of rocky planets orbiting distant stars.
Operator: University of California
GPS coordinates: 37.34253,-121.63824
Latest update: March 8, 2025 21:30
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