NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope concluded its mission with a brief final observing campaign that lasted only a month due to low fuel. Despite this, a team of astrophysicists and citizen scientists discovered three exoplanets in the limited data collected. Over its nearly decade-long mission, Kepler observed countless stars, identifying over 2,600 confirmed exoplanets and establishing itself as a groundbreaking tool in exoplanet detection.
During its last few operational days, Kepler provided only seven days of high-quality data, but the research team successfully spot-checked for transiting planets within this dataset. The newly discovered exoplanets, which range in size between Earth and Neptune, each orbit different stars and showcase Kepler’s remarkable capabilities even at its end.
The trio includes K2-416 b, K2-417 b, and an unconfirmed planet, EPIC 246251988 b. The research highlights the important role of citizen scientists in racing against time to identify these celestial bodies and builds upon the legacy of Kepler’s extensive contributions to astronomy. After Kepler’s retirement in October 2018, NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has continued the search for new planets, indicating a seamless transition in exoplanet exploration.
