Astronomy
NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) project is a multi-year space mission to discover transiting exoplanets. The wide-angle field of view of the TESS space telescope affords large sky coverage but limits the precision of measurements. Observations from more powerful ground-based telescopes are needed to confirm exoplanet candidates detected by TESS. Austin College’s Adams Observatory is part of a select group of observatories worldwide that provides follow-up observations for the TESS project. The primary goal of the summer research is to observe TESS targets and analyze light curves for possible detection of exoplanets. Students will plan observations, collect data using the Adams Observatory, and analyze data using specialized software developed by the TESS team. Interesting results will be submitted to the TESS team for additional analysis. This research will be conducted at night.