ESA Science & Technology - ESA BR-342: CHEOPS - Sizing and first characterisation of exoplanets

Publication date: 27 March 2019

Journal: ESA Brochure
Volume: 342
Year: 2019

Copyright: ESA

CHEOPS is ESA's CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite. It is the first mission dedicated to studying bright, nearby stars that are already known to host exoplanets, in order to make high-precision observations of the planet's size as it passes in front of its host star. It will focus on planets in the super-Earth to Neptune size range, with its data enabling the bulk density of the planets to be derived – a first-step characterisation towards understanding these alien worlds.

Contents

• Why exoplanets
• Enter CHEOPS
• How CHEOPS will characterise exoplanets
• Designing a planet watcher
• A European collaboration
• Welcome onboard!