NASA TESS Maps 96 Sky Sectors, Spotting 679 Exoplanets and 5,165 Candidates
Updated
Updated · Signals AZ · May 28
NASA TESS Maps 96 Sky Sectors, Spotting 679 Exoplanets and 5,165 Candidates
2 articles · Updated · Signals AZ · May 28
Summary
A 96-sector all-sky mosaic released by NASA’s TESS gives its fullest star map yet, plotting nearly 6,000 confirmed and candidate exoplanets identified through September 2025.
TESS built the view from observations gathered between April 2018 and September 2025, using four cameras to watch month-long sky sectors for starlight dips caused by orbiting planets.
The mission had confirmed 679 exoplanets by Sept. 9 and flagged 5,165 more candidates by the end of its second extended mission, with some worlds potentially in habitable zones.
The mosaic also captures the Milky Way’s bright central arc and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, while black patches mark regions TESS has not yet imaged.
NASA said TESS has become a major engine of exoplanet science, contributing to a broader catalog of more than 6,270 confirmed exoplanets found across missions and observatories.
With telescopes finding planets faster than we can confirm them, what is the true bottleneck in our search for alien life?
As AI finds thousands of exoplanets, what unique role is left for human observers in the search for new worlds?
TESS Maps 6,000+ Exoplanets: A New Era in All-Sky Planet Discovery and Cosmic Exploration
Overview
NASA's TESS mission has achieved a major milestone by completing an all-sky map of exoplanets as of September 2025. Over years of dedicated observation, TESS merged data from 96 sectors using its four wide-field cameras, resulting in a visually striking mosaic that highlights nearly 6,000 confirmed and candidate exoplanets. This extensive mapping effort, which features the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, significantly advances our understanding of planetary systems beyond our own. By focusing on brighter stars, TESS makes it easier to detect and confirm the transit patterns of orbiting planets, paving the way for future discoveries.