Astronomers are designing a new ground-based telescope array, Nautilus, to tackle a persistent problem: missing data on exoplanet atmospheres. The project targets biosignatures—chemical signs of life—since exoplanet surfaces remain impossible to image directly.
The array would operate alongside existing powerful telescopes such as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). While those instruments have improved atmospheric observation, how exoplanet atmospheres form and evolve remains poorly understood, according to the research.
Nautilus is still in the design phase, with no confirmed completion date or cost disclosed in the announcement. The project's goal is to detect atmospheric signatures that current telescopes might miss, particularly for smaller, rocky worlds where biosignatures are most promising.
If built, the array could significantly accelerate the search for life beyond Earth by providing complementary data to space-based observatories. It may also help prioritize which exoplanets warrant closer inspection by JWST and future missions.
Some astronomers caution that ground-based arrays face atmospheric interference challenges that space telescopes avoid. The project's feasibility and timeline remain uncertain without firm funding commitments.