Canada proposes POET mission to hunt Earth-sized exoplanets in 2029
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · May 3
Canada proposes POET mission to hunt Earth-sized exoplanets in 2029
12 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · May 3
The shoebox-sized satellite would use a 20cm telescope to monitor a few hundred ultracool dwarf stars within 326 light-years during a one-year mission.
POET is designed to find planets 1 to 2.5 Earth radii with 7 to 50-day orbits, using multi-wavelength photometry to separate true transits from stellar flares and starspots.
The proposal builds on Canada's MOST and NEOSSat microsatellites and aims to supply nearby rocky-planet targets for Webb, though the 2029 launch remains subject to funding and schedule risks.
Can a shoebox-sized satellite from Canada find the atmospheric secrets that have so far eluded the mighty James Webb telescope?
As JWST finds more barren worlds, how will Canada's POET telescope avoid a hunt for lifeless rocks around violent stars?
Could the rise of satellite megaconstellations blind our view of the cosmos, making future missions like POET impossible?
High-Precision Triple-Wavelength Photometry for Exoplanet Discovery: The POET Microsatellite Targeting Ultracool Dwarfs
Overview
The POET mission, set to launch in late 2029, is Canada's third space telescope dedicated to discovering and characterizing Earth-sized exoplanets orbiting ultracool dwarf stars. These small, dim stars make planet detection easier due to their size and abundance. POET uses innovative triple-wavelength photometry to distinguish true planetary transits from stellar activity, overcoming challenges posed by active stars. Acting as a specialized 'target scout,' POET will provide high-priority, well-vetted exoplanet candidates for detailed study by flagship observatories like JWST and the future Habitable Worlds Observatory. This mission, supported by a pan-Canadian collaboration and heritage technologies, fills a critical gap in exoplanet research and maximizes the efficiency of larger telescopes.