THE MISSION QUESTION
WHAT CAN WE DISCOVER ABOUT A PLANET 1,100 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY โ USING ONLY A FLASHLIGHT AND A PING PONG BALL?
That is the real question. Everything in this mission builds toward answering it โ one piece of evidence at a time.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
7 QUESTS. ONE DISCOVERY.
Each quest builds on the last. Every piece of evidence gets you closer to filing your own discovery statement and earning your badge.
QUEST 1 โ READ THE LIGHT
Learn to read a light curve โ the flickering signal that tells astronomers something is out there.
QUEST 2 โ CATCH THE DIP
Measure exactly how much the starlight dims when a planet crosses. The dip size is your first real evidence.
QUEST 3 โ TIME THE CROSSING
How long does the transit last? Timing the crossing reveals how fast the planet is moving across the star.
QUEST 4 โ WATCH THE STAR
Observe multiple transits and look for the pattern. Real astronomers need at least three crossings to be sure.
QUEST 5 โ CALCULATE THE SIZE
Use your dip measurements to calculate how large the planet actually is relative to its star.
QUEST 6 โ TRACK THE ORBIT
Calculate how long it takes this planet to complete one full orbit. That tells you how close it is to its star.
QUEST 7 โ CONFIRM THE PLANET
File your discovery statement. You've collected the evidence. Now you decide โ is this planet real?
WHAT YOU NEED
EVERYTHING IS ALREADY AT HOME.
No specialist equipment. No ordering anything. Six household items โ each one playing the role of a real astronomical instrument.
HOW LONG
YOUR PACE. YOUR MISSION.
Most explorers complete all 7 quests in a single sitting. You can also spread it across multiple sessions โ the mission saves your progress.
That's roughly 12 minutes per quest โ though some will take less, and you might find yourself spending longer on the ones that surprise you.
FOR MISSION CONTROL
THE GUIDE BEHIND THE MISSION.
Mission Control receives a separate dossier โ a full briefing on the science, what each quest is really testing, and how to support without giving anything away. The discovery still belongs to the explorer.
- Full mission briefing โ the real science explained
- What each quest is actually measuring
- 5 discussion prompts per quest
- What not to over-explain โ and why
- How to respond when the explorer gets it wrong
- Your own discovery moment at the end
READY TO START?
THE PLANET IS WAITING.
Everything you need is already at home. The discovery will be entirely yours.
BEGIN MISSION 001 โ