Explore the future of exoplanet discovery with the **Automated Planet Finder (APF)**! Located at Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, this pioneering 2.4-meter **robotic telescope** is revolutionizing the search for **potentially habitable exoplanets**. Operational since 2014, the **APF** autonomously determines the orbits and masses of distant worlds.
Discover how the **APF** operates independently each night, scrutinizing up to 25 stars within 100 light-years of Earth using high-precision **radial velocity measurements**. Learn about its unique ability to detect the subtle **gravitational tugs** planets exert on their stars.
While early findings include systems like HD 141399 (four gas giants) and GJ 687 (Neptune-mass planet orbiting a red dwarf star), scientists anticipate many more groundbreaking **exoplanet discoveries**. Beyond its primary mission, the **APF** also contributes to other crucial **astronomical observations**, monitoring supernova explosions and identifying gamma-ray burst sources.
See how the **APF** complements space-based missions like NASA's **Kepler Space Observatory** in expanding humanity's inventory of **exoplanets**, and what the **James Webb Space Telescope** will mean for future discoveries. Dive into the cutting-edge technology searching for life beyond Earth!
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