Kepler Space Telescope
A Galaxy Filled With Planets
Kepler transformed exoplanet science by continuously measuring tiny changes in stellar brightness and showing that planets are common throughout the Milky Way.
Object type
Exoplanet space telescope
Launch
March 6, 2009
Known for
Thousands of exoplanets and candidates
TransitSatellite connection
Kepler connects precision photometry, exoplanet transits, stellar variability, and the later TESS survey mission.
Objective
Measure how common planets are
Kepler monitored a large population of stars and looked for repeated dips in brightness caused by planets crossing, or transiting, in front of their stars.
Method
Precision photometry at scale
The mission combined a wide field of view with extremely stable brightness measurements, allowing statistical estimates of planet frequency as well as individual discoveries.
K2 and legacy
A second life and a new exoplanet era
After reaction-wheel failures ended the original pointing mode, the K2 extension used solar pressure in a balanced observing strategy. Kepler's discoveries set the stage for TESS and detailed follow-up by larger observatories.
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