Exoplanet detection began in the 1990s, and to date, over 5,500 exoplanets have been discovered using space-based surveys such as the Kepler Space Telescope, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Spitzer Space Telescope, CoRoT (Convection, Rotation, and Planetary Transits), etc., and ground-based missions like the Keck Observatory, Very Large Telescope (VLT), Gemini Observatory, etc.

The next phase of exoplanet research focuses on understanding the composition of these distant worlds. Although some existing telescopes have been used to study exoplanetary compositions, they face limitations, such as an inability to detect vital faint signals from these planets.

New and upcoming instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the Magellan Telescopes etc., are designed to overcome these limitations. These advanced telescopes will be used for follow-up observations of previously detected exoplanets, enabling scientists to study their compositions and other parameters in detail.

To achieve this, it is crucial to refine the mid-transit periods of exoplanets so that observations can be precisely timed, avoiding wasted telescope time. This is where the NASA Exoplanet Watch, founded by Dr. Rob Zellem, comes in. The initiative allows citizen scientists to contribute observational data to refine the transit periods of exoplanets.

Our organization is part of these efforts, engaging teachers, students, and STEM enthusiasts from Africa. Our Citizen scientists receive training in observing and capturing images of stars using the MicroObservatory (MOBS) web telescopes. They also learn to conduct photometry using the EXOTIC software to generate light curves and submit observational reports to the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO).

This activity is flexible and can be undertaken by individuals or teams during their free time.

For more details, please refer to Dr. Robert T. Zellem’s profile on ORCID.

REQUIREMENTS

• Computer of any OS.
• All software is online
• Good Internet
• Gmail only.
• Can be undertaken by an individual, not necessarily a group activity.
• Passion for astronomy.