The Kepler Spacecraft Observes Exoplanets

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Kepler was launched into space in 2009 to collect statistical information about exoplanets; however, mechanical issues in 2013 rendered its telescope incapable of maintaining steady pointing. Engineers then revised K2 so it uses solar pressure to continue staring at patches in Cygnus and Lyra sky. Photometry Kepler space telescope searches for Earth-sized exoplanets through the…

Kepler, the Planet-Hunting Spacecraft

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Kepler monitors 145,000 Sun-like stars for signs of planets passing in front of them, searching for periodic dips in star brightness that might indicate planet orbital activity around its host star. Astronomers look out for patterns suggesting planet presence by tracking periodic brightness dips that might signal their passage. Kepler had been operating successfully until…