NASA | Looking for the Shadows of New Worlds

NASA's Kepler mission has been a leader in exoplanet discovery, identifying over 1000 confirmed exoplanets. Using transit photometry, Kepler detects dips in starlight as planets transit their stars. Future missions like TESS and Plato aim to expand on Kepler's work, potentially identifying Earth-like planets and even moons. Studies have pushed Kepler's data to its limits, revealing asteroid signatures in extrasolar systems. However, challenges remain, such as noise from host stars. Future missions will focus on reducing this noise to detect smaller transits, with the James Webb Space Telescope playing a key role in studying habitable worlds.

What technique did NASA's Kepler mission use to discover exoplanets?

• Astrometry

• Time Series Transit Photometry

• Gravitational Microlensing

• Direct Imaging

Which planets in our solar system are likely to be detected by future missions like TESS and PLATO?

• None of the planets

• Only Jupiter

• Earth and Venus

• Mars and Mercury

What celestial features might be detected in addition to planets, according to the study by Michelle Hipkin?

• Black holes

• Distant galaxies

• Ring structures and moons

• Comets

What is the main limitation in detecting exoplanets with current technology?

• Limited observation time

• Insufficient data storage

• Noise from host stars

• Lack of powerful telescopes

Which future telescope is expected to study Earth-sized planets in more detail?

• Hubble Space Telescope

• James Webb Space Telescope

• Chandra X-ray Observatory

• Spitzer Space Telescope