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The discovery of exoplanets relies on several advanced telescopes, each utilizing different techniques to detect and study distant worlds.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), and Kepler (including its follow-up mission, K2) are key instruments in the search for exoplanets. JWST, launched in December 2021, uses its advanced infrared capabilities to study exoplanet atmospheres and search for signs of habitability. TESS, launched in 2018, focuses on finding exoplanets around bright stars by monitoring large sections of the sky for transits. Kepler, which operated from 2009 to 2018, primarily used the transit method to discover thousands of exoplanets, while its K2 mission continued this work by observing different fields of the sky. Together, these telescopes significantly enhance our understanding of planetary systems beyond our own.
Habitable Worlds Observatory
The Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) is a proposed next-generation space telescope designed to search for signs of life on exoplanets. Equipped with advanced instruments, HWO aims to directly image and analyze the atmospheres of Earth-like planets in the habitable zone of their stars. By focusing on potentially habitable worlds, the observatory seeks to detect biosignatures—chemical indicators of life—advancing our understanding of the conditions that may support life beyond Earth.
Next Up: Exoplanet Archive
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