Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Music: “Whimsical Whirlwinds,” Claire Leona Batchelor [PRS], Universal Production Music
Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.
Complete transcript available.
Get the vertical version of this video [here](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14797/){target=_blank}.", "items": [ { "id": 490648, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157773, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014883/PolkaDotStars_Thumbnail.jpg", "filename": "PolkaDotStars_Thumbnail.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn how a new tool uses data from exoplanets, worlds beyond our solar system, to tell us about their polka-dotted stars.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Whimsical Whirlwinds,” Claire Leona Batchelor [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.Get the vertical version of this video [here](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14797/){target=_blank}.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 490663, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 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[here](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14797/){target=_blank}.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 490697, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157819, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014883/14883_MappingStellarPolkaDots.mp4", "filename": "14883_MappingStellarPolkaDots.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn how a new tool uses data from exoplanets, worlds beyond our solar system, to tell us about their polka-dotted stars.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Whimsical Whirlwinds,” Claire Leona Batchelor [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.Get the vertical version of this video [here](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14797/){target=_blank}.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 490649, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157774, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014883/MappingStellarPolkaDotsCaptions.en_US.srt", "filename": "MappingStellarPolkaDotsCaptions.en_US.srt", "media_type": "Captions", "alt_text": "Watch to learn how a new tool uses data from exoplanets, worlds beyond our solar system, to tell us about their polka-dotted stars.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Whimsical Whirlwinds,” Claire Leona Batchelor [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.Get the vertical version of this video [here](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14797/){target=_blank}.", "label": "English", "language_code": "en-US" } }, { "id": 490699, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157821, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014883/14883_MappingStellarPolkaDots_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov", "filename": "14883_MappingStellarPolkaDots_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Watch to learn how a new tool uses data from exoplanets, worlds beyond our solar system, to tell us about their polka-dotted stars.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Whimsical Whirlwinds,” Claire Leona Batchelor [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.Get the vertical version of this video [here](https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14797/){target=_blank}.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378776, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14883/#media_group_378776", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Scientists have devised a new method for mapping the spottiness of distant stars by using observations from NASA missions of orbiting planets crossing their stars’ faces. The model builds on a technique researchers have used for decades to study star spots.By improving astronomers’ understanding of spotty stars, the new model — called StarryStarryProcess — can help discover more about planetary atmospheres and potential habitability using data from telescopes like NASA’s upcoming Pandora mission.
NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) and now-retired Kepler Space Telescope were designed to identify planets using transits, dips in stellar brightness caused when a planet passes in front of its star.
These measurements reveal how the star’s light varies with time during each transit, and astronomers can arrange them in a plot astronomers call a light curve. Typically, a transit light curve traces a smooth sweep down as the planet starts passing in front of the star’s face. It reaches a minimum brightness when the world is fully in front of the star and then rises smoothly as the planet exits and the transit ends.
By measuring the time between transits, scientists can determine how far the planet lies from its star and estimate its surface temperature. The amount of missing light from the star during a transit can reveal the planet’s size, which can hint at its composition.
Every now and then, though, a planet’s light curve appears more complicated, with smaller dips and peaks added to the main arc. Scientists think these represent dark surface features akin to sunspots seen on our own Sun — star spots.
The Sun’s total number of sunspots varies as it goes through its 11-year solar cycle. Scientists use them to determine and predict the progress of that cycle as well as outbreaks of solar activity that could affect us here on Earth.
Similarly, star spots are cool, dark, temporary patches on a stellar surface whose sizes and numbers change over time. Their variability impacts what astronomers can learn about transiting planets.
Scientists have previously analyzed transit light curves from exoplanets and their host stars to look at the smaller dips and peaks. This helps determine the host star’s properties, such as its overall level of spottiness, inclination angle of the planet’s orbit, the tilt of the star’s spin rotation axis compared to our line of sight, and other factors. The new model uses light curves that include not only transit information, but also the rotation of the star itself to provide even more detailed information about these stellar properties.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378745, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14883/#media_group_378745", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This artist’s concept shows the baseline brightness of a star without a transiting planet or a star spot.
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "items": [ { "id": 490651, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157776, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014883/SimpleStarLightCurve.jpg", "filename": "SimpleStarLightCurve.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This artist’s concept shows the baseline brightness of a star without a transiting planet or a star spot.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 490652, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157777, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014883/SimpleStarLightCurve.mp4", "filename": "SimpleStarLightCurve.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This artist’s concept shows the baseline brightness of a star without a transiting planet or a star spot.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 490653, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1157778, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014800/a014883/SimpleStarLightCurve_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov", "filename": "SimpleStarLightCurve_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This artist’s concept shows the baseline brightness of a star without a transiting planet or a star spot.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378746, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14883/#media_group_378746", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This artist’s concept illustrates the varying brightness of a star with a transiting planet but no star spots.
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In its first year, it will observe about 20 exoplanets using visible and near-infrared light, revisiting each planet ten times for 24-hour observations to separate the planet’s signal from its star and reveal the composition of the planet’s atmosphere. || ", "release_date": "2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2026-02-23T17:52:07-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1202113, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014974/NASA_Pandora_SmallSat_Infographic_print.jpg", "filename": "NASA_Pandora_SmallSat_Infographic_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This artist’s concept summarizes NASA’s Pandora mission and its science goals. Pandora will repeatedly observe multiple planets and their host stars in both visible and near-infrared light. 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A line of three solar panels extends from the right side of the spacecraft at a 45-degree angle. On the right side of the background is a large planet streaked with purple, pink, and white. To the left of the planet are two stars. One is small, yellow, and very close to the planet. The other is white and is almost totally eclipsed by the spacecraft. || Pandora_Graphic_No_Text.jpg (6000x3000) [3.5 MB] || Pandora_Graphic_No_Text.png (6000x3000) [22.7 MB] || ", "release_date": "2026-01-09T09:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2026-01-14T09:49:40-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1195440, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014945/Pandora_Graphic_1_print.jpg", "filename": "Pandora_Graphic_1_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Labeled version of the artist’s concept of Pandora, alternative font.\rCredit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center\rAlt text: The Pandora spacecraft with an exoplanet and two stars in the background\rImage description: A metallic spacecraft takes up most of this image. Its body is made of a cylindrical telescope attached to a square base. Inside the telescope is the reflection of an orange star. A line of three solar panels extends from the right side of the spacecraft at a 45-degree angle. On the right side of the background is a large planet streaked with purple, pink, and white. To the left of the planet are two stars. One is small, yellow, and very close to the planet. The other is white and is almost totally eclipsed by the spacecraft. It is labeled “Pandora” in the upper left corner.", "width": 1024, "height": 512, "pixels": 524288 } }, { "id": 14928, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14928/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "TESS Triples Size of Pleiades Star Cluster", "description": "These young, hot blue stars are members of the Pleiades open star cluster and reside about 430 light-years away in the northern constellation Taurus. The brightest stars are visible to the unaided eye during evenings from October to April. A new study finds the cluster to be triple the size previously thought — and shows that its stars are scattered across the night sky. The Schmidt telescope at the Palomar Observatory in California captured this color-composite image. Credit: NASA, ESA, and AURA/CaltechAlt text: Members of the Pleiades shine in blue. Image description: The Pleiades are shown in this image. Six of the stars, all blue-white, are larger than the others and have diffraction spikes and faint blue circles around them. Other, smaller blue stars are also scattered across the image. Patches of swirling blue dust surround some of the stars. || STScI-01EVVEYWX1TA3MGBK5F6EFQVGQ.jpg (4877x3513) [1.1 MB] || ", "release_date": "2025-11-20T10:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2026-01-14T14:33:59.652887-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1159637, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014928/Pleiades_members_gal_4K_searchweb.png", "filename": "Pleiades_members_gal_4K_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This image shows an all-sky view of the Greater Pleiades Complex with the plane of our Milky Way running through the middle. Members of the original open cluster are in blue, and new members are in yellow. The constellations are outlined and labeled in green. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; background, ESA/Gaia/DPAC; Boyle et. al. 2025\rAlt text: An oval view of the entire sky scattered with blue and yellow dots showing the known members of the Greater Pleiades Complex\rImage description: A wavy line of dots crosses this oval view of our Milky Way galaxy. A clump of blue dots, the original Pleiades open cluster, is located just below the middle of the image. The rest of the dots are yellow and show the new members of the Greater Pleiades Complex. The constellations are outlined and labeled in green. ", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }