Browsing: TESS

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a NASA-led space telescope launched in April 2018, designed specifically for discovering exoplanets using the transit method. This method detects distant planets by measuring the slight dimming of a star’s light as a planet passes in front of it. TESS’s mission focuses on stars closer to Earth, enhancing the potential for detailed follow-up observations by other telescopes. Equipped with four advanced cameras, TESS surveys over 85% of the sky, aiming to identify thousands of exoplanet candidates ranging from Earth-sized to gas giants, around a diverse array of stellar types. This mission builds on the legacy of the Kepler mission, but with a broader scope and improved technology to provide a comprehensive map of the nearby exoplanetary systems.