Life On Other Planets?

A free online project where anyone can explore a map of the real stars near us, study real data from NASA's planet-hunting telescopes, and help decide which distant worlds are the best places to look for life. Built by the Griswold family as a for-fun, for-real science project.

Start exploring →

Three ways to join the search

Data LabSpot real planets in NASA light curves — the core science task. Signal LabHunt for alien radio signals using the ON-OFF cadence test. AI LabCross-check candidates with help from your own AI.
How it works

You're a second pair of eyes
on real telescope data

Computers are fast, but people are better at spotting the unexpected. Four steps, a few seconds each — no account, no email.

Real NASA data
Seconds per task
Your name on the map
1
Pick & explore
Grab an explorer, fly the map
Choose an avatar and cruise a real map of the nearby stars. Nothing to sign up for.
2
Judge a signal
Real planet, or just noise?
In the Data Lab, a star dips in brightness. You call it: real world, or a glitch. Seconds each.
3
The crowd decides
No single click matters
Everyone sees the same cards. Only strong agreement moves forward — so the science stays honest.
4
Chart & name
Name the worlds you find
Help confirm planets, rule stars in or out — and give a nickname to a world that sticks on the map.
The honest part
We probably won't find aliens — nearly every promising signal in history turned out to be interference or a natural quirk. But what we can do is real: help confirm new planets, rule stars in and out, sharpen the list of the best places to look — and maybe help co-discover a genuine new world.
Start exploring

Frequently asked questions

Is this a game or real science?

Both, on purpose. The exploring, charting, and naming are the fun wrapper; underneath, you're doing a real task scientists need. The fun is attached to genuine work, not a substitute for it.

Do I need an account?

No — you can take part with just a name and an avatar, no email required. We collect almost nothing and public names are moderated.

Can I really name a planet?

You can give an honorary nickname to a world you helped chart, and it lives on our map as a thank-you. To be clear, that's a celebratory nickname, not an official name — official naming is handled by the International Astronomical Union.

Is it free? What data do you use?

Yes, it's free. It runs on free, public data: confirmed-planet data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive, and — for the radio-astronomy phase coming later — the Breakthrough Listen open data initiative.

Who's behind it?

The Griswold family in Atlanta. This is their passion project: use free public data and a lot of curious people to chase a big question, and have fun doing it.

Explore the neighborhood →

An exploration by the Griswolds. Built on free, public data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive and the Breakthrough Listen initiative. A citizen-science project — welcoming to newcomers, honest about what it can and can't do. · Scoreboard · Privacy & Terms