Exoplanet Watch

A citizen science project, sponsored by NASA’s Universe of Learning, we help anyone (yes, you!) gather data about exoplanets, planets outside our solar system. Then we help you analyze that data using authentic science tools, submit your results into a NASA database, AND get credit for your work in scientific papers!

No telescope? No problem! Use our remote robotic telescopes and archived data to get you started almost immediately. If you do have a telescope, we’ve been able to help users gather their own, valuable exoplanet data with simple, affordable, backyard telescopes as small as 4"!

A transiting exoplanet is one that periodically passes in front of its host star, causing the star to appear to slightly dim (typically by ~1%). Observing exoplanet transits is important, as they allow the direct measurement of a planet’s radius and composition. Ground-based observations with small telescopes can help astronomers measure more accurately how quickly a planet orbits around its host star, which provides more accurate measurements of the planets’ mass. Exoplanet Watch will help increase the efficiency of exoplanet studies by large ground-based and space-based telescopes to characterize exoplanet atmospheres by reducing uncertainty about the predicted timing of transit events.

Exoplanet Watch will:
Ensure efficient use of large telescopes — more accurately predict future transits for follow-up with large telescope (e.g., the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope)
Discover new exoplanets — using transit timing variations to infer the existence of an additional exoplanet in an extrasolar system
Monitor stellar variability — measure changes in brightness due to star spots on a host star that can alter the observed exoplanet’s signal
Confirm new exoplanets — help confirm newly discovered exoplanets

Citizen scientists will get real astronomical data, either using your own telescope or checking out archived data. Then analyze their own data using our professional, but beginner-friendly, tools and tutorials. Finally, upload their results to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) Exoplanet Database to share their results with NASA and the whole scientific community. If/When a participant’s results are used in a scientific paper, the participant will be credited as a co-author on the paper.