| Abstract: |
Recent exoplanet indirect detection survey (in particular Kepler) have demonstrated that between 10% and 50% of main sequence stars harbor a potentatially habitable planet. Advances in technologies will soon enable direct imaging and spectroscopic characterization of such planets around nearby stars. I will describe such missions, and show that ground-based and space-based facilities will offer complementary capabilities. A large (~10m diameter) space based optical telescope would allow characterization of Earth-like planets around Sun-like stars. I will show how the NASA-led WFIRST mission, which will image gas giant planets, serves as a scientific and technology precursor. From the ground, extremely large telescopes will be able to image and characterize in near-IR habitable planets around nearby M-type stars, and I will show how the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme-AO (SCExAO) instrument is validating the required technologies. |
