LAUNCH DATE

Exoplanet-related missions

Dedicated exoplanet missions

2009 Kepler/K2

2013Gaia

2018Tess

2019 Cheops

1990Hubble

2006Corot

2003Spitzer

2021 Webb

2026 Plato

2029 Ariel

spie.org

Exoplanets – or extrasolar planets – are worlds beyond Earth’s solar system, orbiting their own Sun-like star and, often, part of entire planetary systems. Exploring these planets provides

essential clues toward understanding if life might exist beyond Earth. Remote sensing, imaging, and astrobiology are just a few of the optics and photonics applications utilized in this exciting

pursuit of extra-terrestrial knowledge.

First discoveries of exoplanets in the 1990s from ground-based observatories opened up the field of exoplanet research. Since then, space telescopes have expanded our reach. Collaboration among nations and agencies is typical and thriving,

and supports missions that aren’t otherwise possible.

Neptune-likeSimilar to Uranus or Neptune

Super EarthMore massive than Earth,lighter than Neptune

TerrestrialRocky, in Earth’s size range

Astrobiologists study the size, composition, and location of exoplanets to assess the possibility of a habitable zone – the range of distance from its star that allows the planet’s temperature to be cool enough

for liquid oceans – critical for Earth-like life.

Gas GiantSimilar to Jupiter or Saturn

EXOPLANETS ARE SORTED INTO CLASSES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO OUR SOLAR SYSTEM PLANETS

5 WAYS TO FIND A PLANET

Transit – 76.0%* Searching for shadows on stars from orbiting planets

Radial velocity – 19.3%*Watching for wobble of a star from pull of a planet

Gravitational microlensing – 2.1%*Observing light from a star bending around a planet

Direct imaging – 1.2%*Taking a picture with a telescope

Astrometry – .02%*Measuring changes in position of the star

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*Percentage of all exoplanets found