Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is a NASA space telescope launched in 2018 to discover planets outside our solar system. It scans large areas of the sky to detect tiny dips in brightness caused when planets pass in front of their host stars, called transits. By measuring these dimming events, TESS identifies and characterizes new exoplanets, especially those orbiting bright, nearby stars. Its goal is to find planets that could potentially support life and to help scientists understand the diversity of planetary systems in our galaxy.