
Welcome Exoplanet Detectives!
Start your Hack an Exoplanet challenge now!
To know more about your mission, watch the Introduction to Hack an Exoplanet video below.
Once you’re ready to start your investigation, proceed to Step 1 – Analyse the data. You will need your case files and exoplanet investigation map to take on the challenge! If you do not have these, you can download the challenges. Good luck detectives!
How are exoplanets studied?
Exoplanets are planets outside our own Solar System, orbiting a star other than our Sun. Scientists use telescopes to find exoplanets and study them. Watch the video below to learn more!
Subtitles are available (automatically generated by YouTube) – select your language using the YouTube player controls.
Challenge 1 - KELT-3b
Are you ready to analyse the 'Hot Jupiter' KELT-3b?
Once you’ve completed KELT-3b, move onto TOI-560c.To submit your KELT-3b project and receive a participation certificate, click here.
Challenge 2 - TOI-560c
Are you ready to analyse the almost tropical TOI-560c?
Begin your mission by watching the Introduction to Hack an Exoplanet video and then proceed to Step 1 - Analyse the data.
Once you’ve completed TOI-560c, you can submit your project to receive a participation certificate, or compete for the Best Project Prize! Submit you project here.
Start your investigation!
Are you ready to analyse the Cheops data and investigate your exoplanet? To begin investigating, Step 1 is to use allesfitter to access the light curve data collected by the Cheops satellite. From here you can continue your investigation into the exoplanet’s properties: size, orbital period, orbital distance, temperature and composition.

Best Project Prize
For a chance to win the Best Project Prize teams should submit their scientific report about TOI-560c.
Your team’s submission should include your analysis of the Cheops data of TOI-560c, and it should follow the format of a scientific paper including an abstract, analysis and results, and conclusions.
The winning teams will receive ESA goodies, as well as the opportunity to participate in a webinar with Physics Nobel Laureate Didier Queloz, on 17 July 2023. Deadline for submission is 14 June 2023.
To submit your project, click here.