How many bright stars of the night sky harbour planets?

寻找恒星周围的行星是定义现代天文学时代的宏伟努力之一。该项目将开发两项创新技术，将该领域带入新的观测领域：大型望远镜的高对比度孔径掩蔽干涉测量，以及悉尼大学恒星干涉仪的极窄角天体测量。这些新仪器将使我们能够搜索我们南方天空明亮的中等质量恒星周围的行星，并将以太阳系尺度的行星的临界轨道尺度为目标。这包括宜居带，那里的条件可以支持生命，样本将立即对行星形成的基本问题产生影响。

The search for planets around stars is one of the grand endeavours that defines the modern era of astronomy. This project will develop two innovative technologies that will lead this field into new observational terrain: high-contrast aperture masking interferometry at large telescopes, and very narrow angle astrometry at the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer. These new instruments will enable the search for planets around the bright intermediate-mass stars of our southern sky, and will target the critical orbital scales of planets at solar-system scale separations. This encompasses the habitable zone where conditions could support life, and the sample will have immediate impact on fundamental questions of planetary formation.