Start your investigation!
- First, consult the guide to completing the investigation.
- Then choose one of the three challenges, which involve analyzing Cheops data on the exoplanets KELT-3 b, TOI-560 c, or K2-141 b and c, and filling in the missing information in their files.
- Begin the investigation by completing the following steps:
Cheops satellite
Cheops (CHaractérisation ExOPlanet Satellite) has the mission of studying stars known to host exoplanets. By studying a large number of different exoplanets, scientists are able to investigate how exoplanetary systems form and evolve. This is an important step towards understanding our own solar system and our place in the Universe.
By accurately measuring the light intensity curves of nearby stars, Cheops is able to determine the size of the exoplanets orbiting them. By combining this information with mass measurements obtained from other measurements, scientists will be able to determine the density of these planets. For certain specific exoplanets, we will even be able to study part of their atmosphere!
Meet ESA experts
Is there a planet like Earth? Scientists have discovered more than 5,000 exoplanets, some of which will be studied in depth by ESA’s CHEOPS satellite. Project scientist Kate Isaak talks about the types of exoplanets discovered and what we can learn from them.
Microbial life is known to survive in all kinds of extreme environments by entering a state of dormancy. Could they have survived long journeys around our galaxy to seed life on Earth? Astrobiologist Nicol Caplin talks about extreme life in an episode of Meet The Experts.
Additional resources
For additional assistance, please refer to the following resources:
- For further assistance, please refer to the following resources:
- Test your knowledge with the Exoplanet Detective Qui
