TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite)

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Operating in second extended mission

For centuries, astronomers assumed most stars were loners, but space telescopes have revealed that multi-star systems are actually common and can be densely packed. A Hungarian-led team has now found the most extreme example: four stars in a region between our Sun and Jupiter, the tightest '3+1'-type system ever recorded.

Updated May 30

New Capabilities

As of May 2026: Operational since July 2018

NASA confirmed its 6,000th exoplanet in September 2025, marking a milestone exactly 30 years after astronomers discovered the first planet orbiting a Sun-like star. The tally jumped from 5,000 to 6,000 in just three years—an acceleration driven by space telescopes and AI analysis. Over 8,000 additional candidates await confirmation.

Updated May 19