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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves
Published on: May 10, 2020
Instrumentation for the detection and characterization of exoplanets
Francesco Pepe1, David Ehrenreich1, Michael R Meyer2
1Observatoire Astronomique de l'Université de Genève, 51 Chemin des Maillettes, 1290 Versoix, Switzerland.
Abstract:
In no other field of astrophysics has the impact of new instrumentation been as substantial as in the domain of exoplanets. Before 1995 our knowledge of exoplanets was mainly based on philosophical and theoretical considerations. The years that followed have been marked, instead, by surprising discoveries made possible by high-precision instruments. Over the past decade, the availability of new techniques has moved the focus of research from the detection to the characterization of exoplanets. Next-generation facilities will produce even more complementary data that will lead to a comprehensive view of exoplanet characteristics and, by comparison with theoretical models, to a better understanding of planet formation.
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