coronagraph
/ˈkɒr.ə.nə.ɡræf/
Definition
An optical instrument designed to block out the direct light of a star, allowing researchers to observe and photograph the much fainter objects, such as exoplanets, orbiting near it.
Etymology
The term combines the Latin 'corona' (meaning crown or halo) with the Greek 'graph' (meaning writing or instrument for recording). It was originally coined in the 1930s by astronomer Bernard Lyot to describe a device that creates an artificial eclipse to study the solar corona.
In the news
In the article, the Coronagraph Instrument is highlighted as a key technology on the Roman Space Telescope that will enable the detection of planets millions of times fainter than their host stars. This tool is vital for the mission's goal of discovering thousands of new exoplanets.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope set to unlock the universe's biggest mysteries
Read the full article ↗upi.com