经济学人: 系外行星的卫星探索之旅 (3)

 　　That would give them a better sense of just how massive it is. 这将让他们更好的感知这个物体有多么的巨大。

　　There maybe more to come. The two researchers think they have found a second promising¹ target lurking² in Kepler's data. 或许还能得到更多。两位研究人员认为他们发现了隐藏在开普勒数据中的第二个有希望的目标。

　　And theory can offer a useful guide as to where else to look. 并且理论可以作为观测的有效指导。

　　Many of the exoplanets discovered so far are so-called "hot Jupiters"—gas giants that orbit close to their stars (a configuration³ unknown in Earth's solar system). 目前所发现的很多系外行星都是所谓的“热木星”，即气态巨行星，绕它们的恒星的轨道而行（地球太阳系中的一种未知结构）。

　　Theorists believe such worlds must have formed farther out from their stars before being flung inward, perhaps by a close encounter with another planet. 理论学家认为这种世界一定是在被向内推进之前就在遥远的恒星中成型了，或许是通过于另一个行星近距离接触形成的。

　　That game of gravitational billiards⁴ would also strip any moons away from such a planet. 引力撞球的游戏也会让卫星脱离该行星。

　　Better to look at "cool Jupiters"—those planets that, like Jupiter itself, orbit their stars at more sensible distances. 最好是看看“冷木星”—和木星本身一样，那些行星会更近距离的围绕着它们的恒星。

　　Only a handful of these are known from the Kepler data, says Dr Kipping, but "we'd like to use the Hubble to observe all of them, every time they transit⁵." 开普勒数据中已知的仅有一小部分，基平博士表示，但“我们会利用哈博望远镜观测所有，观测它们每一次的移动。”

　　If everything goes according to plan, the study of exomoons may follow the pattern seen with exoplanets, where an initial trickle⁶ turns rapidly into a flood. 如果一切按计划进行，系外行星的研究或许会遵循系外行星的模式—在这些系外行星上，最初的微妙移动迅速扩大。

　　A probe called the Transiting⁷ Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) was launched in April. 一个名为凌日系外行星勘测卫星（TESS）的探测器于四月发射。

　　TESS is designed to observe stars much closer to Earth than those watched by Kepler. TESS旨在观测那些距离地球更近的恒星（与开普勒观测到的相比）。

　　If it can observe for long enough, it may turn up more candidate exomoons. 如果TESS的观测时间够长，或许可以发现更多候选系外行星。

　　Follow-up observations of anything that TESS finds would be greatly aided by its comparative nearness. 对TESS所发现的任何物体的后续观测都将受到其相对近距离的极大辅助。

　　And the Hubble is expected to be joined in 2020 by the budget-bustingly expensive, extremely late and very capable James Webb Space Telescope, 2020年，一种更加昂贵、先进且非常得力的詹姆斯·韦伯空间望远镜会加入哈博望远镜行列，

　　which will carry the largest mirror ever flown into space. The moons are out there. Finding them is only a matter of time. 前者载有最大的镜面，比送入太空的任何一个都大。卫星就在那里，发现它们只是时间问题。

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 lurking   

潜在

参考例句：

• Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的，想干什么？
• There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 configuration   

n.结构，布局，形态，(计算机)配置

参考例句：

• Geographers study the configuration of the mountains.地理学家研究山脉的地形轮廓。
• Prices range from $119 to $199,depending on the particular configuration.价格因具体配置而异，从119美元至199美元不等。

4 billiards   

n.台球

参考例句：

• John used to divert himself with billiards.约翰过去总打台球自娱。
• Billiards isn't popular in here.这里不流行台球。

5 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。

6 trickle   

vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散

参考例句：

• The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。
• The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

7 transiting   

通过（transit的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• The effect of the transiting mechanic required reserve system vehicle is low. 准备金制度的传导机制的作用是很低的。
• I was busy transiting to the telescope. 我正忙着旋转望远镜。