Dive Into TESS's Southern Sky Panorama

TESS, a space telescope, observes the southern sky by dividing it into 13 sectors, capturing transient events and creating a detailed panoramic image. It identifies notable celestial objects like the Milky Way, Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, and various stars and nebulae. TESS has discovered numerous exoplanets, including multi-planet systems and Earth-sized planets. The telescope now focuses on the northern sky, continuing its mission to discover distant worlds, with astronomers analyzing vast amounts of data to confirm new exoplanets.

What was the primary objective of TESS when observing the southern sky?

• To capture images of the Milky Way

• To detect dips in starlight caused by planets

• To monitor the movement of comets

• To map the positions of supernovae

Which notable feature is located at the center of TESS's continuous viewing zone?

• The Orion Nebula

• The Coalsack Nebula

• The Large Magellanic Cloud

• Alpha Centauri

Which star is known for hosting one of the first directly imaged planets?

• Rigel

• Sirius

• Betelgeuse

• Fomalhaut

What is the significance of the sectors that were observed first by TESS?

• They were studied longer, allowing more time to find transits

• They have more confirmed exoplanets

• They contain the most stars

• They are closer to the Milky Way

What is TESS's current focus after observing the southern sky?

• Monitoring Alpha Centauri

• Observing the northern sky

• Mapping the Milky Way

• Studying the Orion Nebula