Exoplanet Watch promotes a welcoming and inclusive community. Anyone and everyone can participate and be a Watcher!

Join over 2,900 Watchers on our Slack!
Questions? Email exoplanetwatch@jpl.nasa.gov.
Beginners are always welcome!

Want to engage with Watchers in new scientific discoveries?

  • Brand new? Start here with this New User Checklist.
  • Invite your friends! NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE NEEDED! NO TELESCOPE NEEDED!
  • Join our Slack Workspace, the primary way Watchers communicate. Ask questions, get answers, suggest an exoplanet to observe, see beautiful astrophotography, and more.
  • Participate in the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) Exoplanet Section Forum

By participating in Exoplanet Watch, you agree to abide by the American Astronomical Society’s Code of Ethics and its Anti-Harassment Policies. To report an issue, please feel free to contact us via email, our anonymous form, or contact JPL’s Ethics Program.


Community Highlight​s

Watcher of the Month

Watchers can apply/nominate others for a chance to be featured here as well as in our monthly newsletter. To sign up for the monthly newsletters, subscribe in the sidebar or follow the instructions here.

Liza Nikitsenka

Liza Nikitsenka
Image Credit: Liza Nikitsenka, used here with permission

Senior Business Analyst (Software Development) - Chile

What kind of telescope do you use to observe exoplanets?

“MicroObservatory - I do not have a telescope (yet).”

What inspires you about studying exoplanets?

“I find studying exoplanets extremely exciting and fascinating—one day, we might discover a world similar to ours, or even better, one so different from anything we could ever expect or imagine that it would broaden our understanding of life and the universe as a whole.”

What inspires you about participating in citizen science?

"Participating in citizen science inspires me because it offers a great opportunity to actively contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge while also expanding my own understanding of the world. It's incredibly exciting to know that my efforts, even as a non-professional, can make a meaningful impact on real scientific research that may benefit society and future generations.

It also provides an incredible opportunity to learn. I am deeply grateful to the Exoplanet Watch community for generously sharing their knowledge and for always being ready to help!”

What else would you like us to know about you?

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Exoplanet Watch project for giving me the incredible opportunity to work with real scientific data and tools. It's an invaluable experience to actively contribute to science and be part of a larger effort to explore the universe. This project has not only deepened my understanding of space but has also made me feel like a meaningful participant in research. I am truly thankful for the chance to engage with such a passionate and supportive community.”

Click here to see past Watchers of the Month


Astrophoto of the Month

Watchers can post in our #astrophotography Slack channel for a chance to be featured here as well as in our monthly newsletter. To sign up for the monthly newsletters, subscribe in the sidebar or follow the instructions here.

Harvest Supermoon Partial Lunar Eclipse by Kara Roberts

Two images of the Moon, one with an orange tine during the eclipse, and one normal gray after the eclipse maximum.
Credit: Kara Roberts, used here with permission

The September 17th partial lunar eclipse. Taken with Nikon P900, approximately 40 minutes apart.

Read more about lunar eclipses, including why it appears to change color and the next eclipse in March.

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