Cheops

CHEOPS is a European space telescope. Its objective is to determine the size of known extrasolar planets, which will allow the estimation of their mass, density, composition and their formation. Launched on 18 December 2019, it is the first Small-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision science programme. The small satellite features an optical Ritchey-Chrétien telescope with an aperture of 30 cm, mounted on a standard small satellite platform. It was placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit of about 700 km altitude.

Read more in the app

CHEOPS detects a 'rainbow' on an exoplanet

Elusive planets play 'hide and seek' with CHEOPS

Europe's exoplanet-hunting CHEOPS mission extended through 2026

Swiss space telescope makes enigmatic discovery | A Swiss-designed telescope travelling on board the CHEOPS space satellite has discovered a new ring around the asteroid Quaoar, presenting astronomers with an enigma.