Exoplanet mission
PLATO (exoplanet mission)
PLATO is a European Space Agency mission that will hunt for terrestrial planets in the habitable zones of bright, Sun-like stars using an array of small telescopes to watch for transits, while asteroseismology of the host stars pins down their ages and sizes. Selected as ESA's third medium-class mission, it is planned for launch in 2026.
Highlights
- ›ESA transit hunt for habitable-zone Earths around bright stars — launch planned 2026
Methods, worlds & facilities
Knowledge connections
- Associated withTransit Method
- Associated withHabitable zone
- Associated withAsteroseismology
- Associated withKepler Space Telescope
- Associated withTESS
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.