Agent Exoplanet

Since 1995 astronomers have found over 1000 planets around other stars. This lesson plan will use observations from a global network of telescopes to identify and characterise exoplanets, using real data from LCOGT's network of telescopes.

Students will use apps to simulate the transit of planets and explore how changing the planet variables directly affects what telescopes can detect. They will also learn about the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum and how different wavelengths allows us to detect different astronomical objects. This lesson is aimed at GCSE students and supports the UK curriculum GCSE Physics - The EM Spectrum, Exoplanets & SETI as well as GCSE Astronomy - Exoplanets.