Do I need to install anything?

No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.

For K-12 Students · Exoplanet Detective

Exoplanet Detective for a heartbeat

Built for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework. Simulate a heartbeat live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Exoplanet Transit

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Exoplanet TransitLive

the transit method · light curves

Controls

Speed1×

Presets

Planet/star radius (Rp/Rs)

Impact parameter b

As a planet crosses its star, it blocks a tiny fraction of the light — a dip of depth (Rp/Rs)². This is how Kepler and TESS have found thousands of exoplanets. Impact parameter sets how centrally the planet crosses, changing the transit shape and duration. Drag the planet across the star to set its phase, or up and down to set the impact parameter — the light curve updates live.

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Data Inspector

Transit depth1.00%

Rp/Rs0.10

Impact b0.20

Governing equation

\frac{Δ F}{F} = (\frac{R _{p}}{R _{⋆}})^{2} = (0.10)^{2} = 1.00%

Reading this result: The dip depth is almost exactly (Rp/Rs)², so measuring how much light is blocked directly gives the planet's size relative to its star. The width of the dip is the transit duration, which — combined with how often it repeats — follows from the planet's orbital period and speed across the disk.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

↓

H-R Diagram

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Hertzsprung-Russell DiagramLive

the map of the stars

Controls

Presets

Your star temperature (K)

The H-R diagram plots stars by temperature and luminosity, revealing the main sequence (a diagonal band), red giants, supergiants, and white dwarfs. Your star (pink ring) sits on the main sequence where luminosity scales as T⁴.

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Data Inspector

Spectral classG

Luminosity1.00 L☉

Temperature5,778 K

Governing equation

\frac{L}{L _{⊙}} = (\frac{T}{T _{⊙}})^{4} = (\frac{5778}{5778})^{4} = 1.00

Reading this result: A cool orange K-type star: lower temperature places it low-right on the main sequence, dimmer and longer-lived than the Sun.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this good for k-12 students?: Yes — this version of "Exoplanet Detective for a heartbeat" is framed for k-12 students learning it in middle or high school. Watch the idea come alive with plain-language steps and everyday examples — perfect for projects and homework.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.