Though in our current day, most innovation is rightfully dominated by experts, natural sciences like Astronomy had humble roots in being explored by anyone with access to the sky (and somewhat of an education). These early explorers’ achievements gave both scientists and laymen the opportunity to enjoy space. Despite limited technology, we still found ways to indulge our curiosity and explore new theories without any references to help.
However, advancements of the 20th century unlocked a whole new means of discovery and experimentation in the field of Astronomy, while also reasonably restricting the practice to highly trained professionals .This was a huge overall win, but the average person no longer had access to cutting edge tech on the same level as the industry standard. However, with NASA’s 2018 launched TESS, you no longer have to be an advanced astronomer to be able to take part in the discovery of new planets with modern tech.
After the launch of the first operational satellite by the Soviet Union, countries all around the world have made massive improvements in technology to make more long lasting and precise machines for data transmission. Six years ago, NASA launched the Transiting Exoplanets Survey Satellite (TESS) with the help of M.I.T. Its main mission was to discover planets in orbit of stars beyond our solar system, called exoplanets.
The way it is able to detect exoplanet is with a process called the transit method. The idea is that TESS is observing a star, and constantly measuring its brightness levels. When something interrupts the light, such as a planet, the luminosity levels drop, and the sensor records the event. Scientists down on Earth can then collect this reading.
Depending on the amount that the light levels drop and for how long, people can determine the unidentified mass to be anything from a tiny space rock to a whole planet the size of Earth. Imagine the light sensor as your eyes on Earth. If you’re walking outside during the day and a bird flies directly over your head, the bird will block your view of the sun and cast a shadow over your head. You might not know that it’s a bird, but you definitely know that something flew over your head.
The type of bird will change the size of the shadow and how long it stays over your head; for example, the shadow of a vulture is going to block out a lot more light from the sun than the shadow of a sparrow. However, the size of the shadow will also vary if a vulture flies directly over your head versus hundreds of feet above you. The unfiltered data from TESS, while lacking immediate context, offers a vast, unexplored universe for anyone with curiosity and a computer.
This raw material, freely accessible to the public, invites citizen scientists to join the ranks of professional astronomers due to the sheer volume being too much for NASA alone to handle. Armed with nothing more than a passion for discovery, individuals from all walks of life can delve into the cosmic tapestry, uncovering hidden patterns and contributing to groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs.
Take, for example, the Percival system, a remarkable discovery made by citizen scientists. Named after the father of Harry Potter’s Dumbledore, this celestial quartet of exoplanets was initially overlooked by automated algorithms. It was a dedicated group of amateur astronomers, pouring over TESS data, who noticed the subtle anomalies that hinted at the existence of these distant worlds. Their keen observations, combined with their unwavering enthusiasm, led to a scientific sensation that captured the imagination of the global community.
It’s incredible to think that we’ve come to a point in time where anyone and everyone has the ability to contribute to humanity’s knowledge of what’s beyond our planet, and even within our solar system. TESS opens the door to so many opportunities of discovery, and who knows, maybe you’ll be the next to add to the list of planets in our vast galaxy.