TESSiCI

TESSiCI, or the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite Interim Cycle, is a project within NASA's TESS mission, aimed at identifying exoplanets by observing the periodic dimming of stars as planets pass in front of them. TESS, launched in 2018, is designed to survey the entire sky, focusing on bright stars in the solar neighborhood. The Interim Cycle refers to the period between the primary mission and the extended mission, during which TESS continues to collect data but with a different observing strategy.

The TESSiCI project focuses on specific regions of the sky, known as sectors, which are observed for approximately 27 days each. During this time, TESS collects high-precision photometric data, which is then analyzed to detect transit events. These events are followed up with ground-based observations and other space-based telescopes to confirm the presence of exoplanets and characterize their properties.

TESSiCI has significantly contributed to the discovery of thousands of exoplanet candidates, many of which are Earth-sized and potentially habitable. The data collected during the Interim Cycle has also been used to study stellar variability, binary stars, and other astrophysical phenomena. The project has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the diversity of exoplanetary systems and the potential for life beyond our solar system.