How does the Kepler telescope work?

Kepler searches for exoplanets using the transit method. When a planet transits (passes in front of) a star relative to the observer, it blocks a small portion of the light from the star.

Is the Kepler telescope still working?

On October 30, 2018, after the spacecraft ran out of fuel, NASA announced that the telescope would be retired. The telescope was shut down the same day, bringing an end to its nine-year service. Kepler observed 530,506 stars and discovered 2,662 exoplanets over its lifetime.

What is the Kepler spacecraft used for?

Kepler was a space telescope designed to survey a portion of the Milky Way galaxy in search of exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system.

What did the Kepler telescope discover?

NASA’s Kepler mission revolutionized our scientific understanding of our place in the cosmos by discovering that: Planets outnumber the stars. Kepler has proven there are more planets than stars in our galaxy — and knowing that revolutionizes our scientific understanding of our place in the cosmos.

How does the Kepler telescope find planets?

Kepler finds planets by looking for tiny dips in the brightness of a star when a planet crosses in front of it—we say the planet transits the star.

How far can the Kepler telescope see?

600 to 3,000 light years
The distance to most of the stars for which Earth-size planets can be detected by Kepler is from 600 to 3,000 light years.

Why did Kepler stop working?

After years of service that extended long beyond its initial four-year mission, the spacecraft finally ran out of fuel. Engineers realized that Kepler was almost out of fuel earlier this summer.

Can we refuel Kepler?

But in 2117, Kepler will pop back onto its old path after another encounter with Earth. And the cycle will continue. So a rescue or refueling mission would be nearly impossible, NASA officials have said.

What is so special about the Kepler space telescope?

One of the superpowers of the Kepler space telescope is its ability to measure the brightness of a star to a tiny fraction of a percent. This precision photometry is necessary to pick up the tiny dimming caused by a planet in front of its star.

Where is Kepler space telescope now?

It’s currently in a safe orbit far from Earth. This week or next, the engineers will send a command to the spacecraft that will turn off its transmitter and other instruments, leaving it silent and drifting in its orbit. Kepler launched in 2009 on a mission to find planets outside our Solar System called exoplanets.

How does the Kepler telescope discover planets?

What planet detection method is used by the Kepler mission?

transit
photometer and spacecraft. In order to find planets, Kepler will use the detection method known as a transit. A transit is an event in which a planet passes in front of a star as seen from Earth. Compared to a larger planet, transits by terrestrial-sized planets produce a small change in the brightness of the star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuwqAbmodo4