What is Tess?
Tess is a short for “Thermal Emission Spectroscopy System”. It is an instrument that allows astronomers to measure the infrared light coming from a star. The amount of IR light emitted by a star can tell us about its temperature, and so tess can be used to study the atmospheres of stars.
How does Tess work?
Tess works by using a telescope to collect light from a star. The light is then passed through a spectrograph, which splits the light into its different wavelengths. The spectrum of the star’s light is then analyzed to determine its temperature.
What are some of the benefits of using Tess?
There are many benefits to using Tess. One benefit is that it can help astronomers find new planets around other stars. When a planet passes in front of its host star as seen from Earth, it blocks out some of the star’s light. By studying how much IR light is blocked at different wavelengths, astronomers can infer the size and orbit of the planet. Additionally, Tess can be used to study stellar variability, which helps us understand how stars change over time. Finally, because Tess observes in both visible and near-infrared wavelengths, it can be used to study both bright and faint stars.