The Solar Gravitational Lens will Map Exoplanets. Seriously, there's a real plan to do just that. Using the Sun to gravitationally lens an exoplanet into an Einstein ring turns the Sun into the most powerful telescope in our solar system. But it's not science fiction. Plans are underway at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to send solar sails to the solar gravitational lens focus to make the first ever image of an exoplanet's surface, and do it within our lifetime! 00:00 Start 01:20 Ordinary telescopes vs. gravitational lensing 04:42 Distances involved 06:28 Imaging with the Sun 13:09 Mission overview and solar sails 16:52 in situ telescope assembly 20:56 NIAC studies 22:58 Thank you's 🔔 Subscribe for more: null 🖖 Share this video with a fellow space traveler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQFqDKRAROI 🔴 Watch my most recent upload: https://goo.gl/QbRcE2 🚀 Help me improve the channel by joining the community on Patreon https://patreon.com/launchpadastro 🚀 Check out Launch Pad merchandise! null Disclaimer: Some of these links go to one of my websites and some are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. 🧭 References: Turyshev & Toth 2020: https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.06492 Turyshev et al 2020: https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.11871 Turyshev et al 2020: https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.05623 ✅ Let's connect: For business inquiries - chris AT christianready DOT com Twitter - @launchpadastro Instagram - @launchpadastro Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/LaunchPadAstronomy/ Discord - https://discord.gg/yChAuUe 📭 c/o Christian Ready P.O. Box 66 Westminster, MD 21158 United States Earth ~-~~-~~~-~~-~ Watch next: Solar Orbiter Discovers Surprising new Phenomenon in the Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOrl2QlPCMI ~-~~-~~~-~~-~