Detecting Earth-like Extra-solar Planets from Antarctica by Gravitational Microlensing

Earth-like extra-solar planets may be detected with 1–2 m class telescopes using the gravitational microlensing technique. The essential requirement is the ability to be able to carry out continuous observations of the Galactic bulge. A telescope situated at Dome A or Dome C in Antarctica would be eminently suitable. Two possible observing strategies are described here. One employs a 1m visible (V and I passbands) telescope, the other a 2 m wide-field near infrared telescope. Either telescope could allow a rough measurement of the abundance of Earth-like planets in the Milky Way to be made in a few years. Useful measurements could also be made on stellar atmospheres.