Join us in a fascinating journey towards understanding the mysteries of worlds beyond Earth, a venture that captivates not just the scientific community but every curious mind. This tutorial, based on our insightful astronomy webinar, delves into the current state of exoplanet research and the exciting future that lies ahead in space exploration.

At the heart of this exploration is the European Space Agency's Ariel space mission, scheduled for launch in 2029. Ariel stands out as the pioneering mission dedicated to analyzing the chemical composition of a wide array of exoplanets, orbiting diverse star types. Its primary aim is to comprehensively study a significant and varied sample of exoplanets to answer pressing questions about their composition, the formation of planets and planetary systems, and the evolution of planets and their atmospheres over time.

Ariel's ambitious plan involves observing around 1000 transiting exoplanets. To optimize this survey, precise knowledge of the expected transit times of these planets is crucial, presenting a unique opportunity for collaboration across the astronomical community. This is where the ExoClock project comes into play. Developed by Anastasia Kokori and Angelos Tsiaras (the two guests of this webinar), ExoClock is an integrated, open project that focuses on monitoring the ephemerides of Ariel’s target planets.

The project is a call to arms for all - professional and amateur astronomers, as well as enthusiastic members of the public. By participating, you can contribute directly to the success of this groundbreaking mission. This tutorial offers an in-depth look at the Ariel mission, its objectives, and how you can be a part of this monumental step in exoplanetary research.