With the creation of a new special-purpose telescope, university astronomers will have the power to enter the search for planets circling other stars.

The instrument is called the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope, or the KELT for short.

The KELT is the product of a collaboration with the University of Cape Town. Though he telescope will be set up at the South African Astronomical Observatory, astronomers from South Africa will send data to Nashville. Additionally, the instrument can be remotely controlled by astronomers from both universities.

The agreement to place the telescope in South Africa developed as a result of a campus initiative from Vanderbilt's International Office.

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