Automated Planet Finder (APF)

The APF is the world’s first robotic telescope capable of detecting rocky planets that might support life in other solar systems.

Extrasolar planetary research has been very successful at Lick Observatory, yet observing time on the Lick Observatory Shane 3-m telescope and Keck 10-m Telescopes for any one project is extremely limited. By operating robotically every on clear night, APF will greatly increase chances of detecting extrasolar planets. APF’s more efficient system and higher resolution spectrometer will increase astronomers’ ability to detect these planets.