The search for life in space

These days, the European Space Observatory ESO, the leading European Organization for Research in Astronomy, celebrating its 50th Jubilee. Established in October 1962, and is headquartered in Munich-Garing.

Currently the European Space Observatory ESO in Chile, in three different places has placed powerful telescopes, unique in the world. Coming soon a fourth. Thanks to cutting edge technology, European astronomers have a leading role in exploring the universe and its mysteries. For example, the so-called exoplanets - distant worlds orbiting other suns.

In 1995, Switzerland's Michel Mayor discovered the first exoplanet. Now there are more than 800 known Exoplanet research may soon provide the answer to the question of all questions: Is the Earth the only planet where life is possible in the universe exists or other similar places?

Planet Hunters

The search for planets orbiting distant sun, the focus of the research. Jochen Liske also works to detect distant planets. For nine years he worked as a researcher at ESO. There have already been discovered some important "evidence" about the possibility of alien life: "Well, it's the age-old question of whether life on Earth is unique or not? The search for life beyond our planet will tell us, of course, much about the nature of life in general. "

European telescopes in Chile 40 years of exploring the universe. These are the most powerful fighters in the world on the planet. A spectacular discovery, more than 150 so-called "exoplanets": telescope has found the stone world, nearly four times heavier than Earth. There might even be liquid water is a key condition for life as we know it. The telescope is also shown that such plans are not as rare as it seems. In the Milky Way could be few billion - much unthinkable.