Planet Hunters

Planet Hunters TESS is a NASA-supported, people-powered research project hosted by Zooniverse. It invites volunteers to help search for planets beyond our Solar System by examining data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Participants look for transit signals, the changes in a star’s brightness that can indicate an orbiting planet, and contribute classifications that help researchers identify promising discoveries.

The project aims to uncover planetary systems across the Galaxy, including worlds that may offer insight into the possibility of life beyond Earth. Its research can also help scientists understand how extrasolar systems form and evolve. Volunteers can get started by classifying data, explore project information, and join discussions with the research team and other participants through Zooniverse Talk. The site provides project statistics, educational resources, and links to Planet Hunters TESS communities on social media. As part of Zooniverse’s broader collection of volunteer research projects, Planet Hunters TESS makes scientific data accessible to the public and gives participants a direct role in astronomical research.