Observatoire Midi Pyrenees astronomers have proposed building a space telescope powerful enough to see Earth-sized planets within 30 light years of Earth.

The telescope would be a Fresnel imager, focusing light by passing it through a pattern of holes carved in an opaque sheet. Because it relies on a foil sheet rather than a massive mirror, it would weigh less and therefore be less expensive to launch compared to a traditional telescope.

It could observe ultraviolet and infrared light in addition to visible light.