CHEOPS

CHEOPS (CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite) is a joint mission between ESA and Switzerland focused on precisely measuring the size of known exoplanets. Imagine the Solar System where CHEOPS, from afar, watches planets move like small beads passing in front of a lamp, momentarily "imprinting" on its brightness. This small 32 cm telescope uses the transit method—measuring the tiny dip in a star's light as a planet passes in front. This allows us to determine the planet's radius with extreme precision. During its 3.5-year mission, it helps reveal if these distant worlds are dense and rocky like Earth or gaseous like Jupiter.