The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the PLATO mission in 2026, which aims to discover thousands of Earth-like exoplanets.
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Target
The mission could identify a minimum of 500 Earth-sized planets, out of which at least a dozen could orbit G-type (Sun-like) stars.
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Estimation
Researchers used a tool they developed called Planet Yield for PLATO estimator (PYPE) to determine the number of exoplanets PLATO could find.
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Transit method
PLATO will employ the transit method to characterize potential Earth-like planets. The mission will also look out for water, a key indicator of habitability.
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Insights
By estimating the number of Earth-like planets PLATO is likely to detect, scientists can determine how and where to direct the mission.
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Current exoplanet count
We've seen a huge rise in exoplanet discoveries in the past two decades. As of July 2023, 5,483 exoplanets have been confirmed in 4,087 systems.