Getting a paper published in a scientific journal is a major achievement for any scientist, giving them the chance to share the new discoveries they’ve made. But you don’t need to have a fancy degree or work at a university to make scientific discoveries. With the right tools, anyone can contribute to science.

In just the past few years, Unistellar Citizen Astronomers have been recognized in multiple scientific publications on exoplanets, space missions and more. That comes thanks to the partnership between Unistellar and the SETI Institute, which gives astronomers access to Unistellar Network data for their research. As research grows in scope, astronomers simply don’t have the resources to make all the observations they need to understand our universe. That’s where Unistellar Network members come in.

A map of member locations around the globe.

To learn more, check out our index of scientific publications featuring

Unistellar Network contributions:

• Graykowski, A., The Ongoing Decline in Activity of Comet 103P/Hartley 2, Planet. Sci. J. 6 224, 2025. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/PSJ/ae018e
• Durech, J. et al., Shape and spin-state model of tumbling asteroid (319) Leona, A&A, 696, id.A76, 2025. https://ui-adsabs-harvard-edu.ezproxy.obspm.fr/abs/2025A%26A…696A..76D/abstract
  
• Ferreira, F., et al., Size and Shape of Jupiter Trojan (2207) Antenor from Stellar Occultations, AJ, Volume 170, Issue 3, id.160, 12 pp., 2025 2025 https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.19638
• Essack, Z., et al., Giant Outer Transiting Exoplanet Mass (GOT ‘EM) Survey. VI. Confirmation of a Long-period Giant Planet Discovered with a Single TESS Transit, AJ, 170, 41, 2025 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/add88b/
• Perrocheau, A. et al., Photometric calibration of the Unistellar telescopes to the Johnson-Cousins System, Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Vol. 11, Issue 2, 028002 (April 2025). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.11.2.028002
• Liu, J., et al., Early-time Observations of SN 2023wrk: A Luminous Type Ia Supernova with Significant Unburned Carbon in the Outer Ejecta, ApJ, 973 (2), 117, 2024 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ad6600
• Gupta, A. F., et al., A hot-Jupiter progenitor on a super-eccentric retrograde orbit, Nature 632, 50–54, 2024 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07688-3
• Sgro, L. A., et al., Confirmation and Characterization of the Eccentric, Warm Jupiter TIC 393818343 b with a Network of Citizen Scientists, AJ, 168 (1), 26, 2024 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ad5096
• Peluso, D.O., et al., Confirming the Warm and Dense Sub-Saturn TIC 139270665 b with the Automated Planet Finder and Unistellar Citizen Science Network, AJ, 167 (4), 170, 2024 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ad2772/
• Sicardy, B., et al., Constraints on Triton atmospheric evolution from occultations: 1989-2022, A&A, in press, 2024 https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.02476
• Pereira, C. L., et al., The two Rings of (50000) Quaoar, A&A, 673 L4, 14, 2023 https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/full_html/2023/05/aa46365-23/aa46365-23.html
• Graykowski, A., et al., Light Curves and Colours of the Ejecta from Dimorphos after the DART impact, Nature 6161, 5957, 461-464, 2023 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05852-9
• Yoshida, F. et al., Multi-chord observation of stellar occultation by the near-Earth asteroid (3200) Phaethon on October 3, 2021 (UTC) with very high accuracy, Publication of the Astronomical Society of Japan, 75, 1, 2023 https://academic.oup.com/pasj/article/75/1/153/6947807
• Lambert, R., et al., Rotation Period Determination for (7335) 1989JA, Minor Planet Bulletin, 50, 1, 16-17, 2023 https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2023MPBu…50…16L
• Peluso, D. O., et al., The Unistellar Exoplanet Campaign:  Citizen Science Results and Inherent Education Opportunities, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2135, 1043, 2023 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acaa58/meta
• Perrocheau, A.,  et al., A 16 Hour Transit of Kepler-167 e Observed by the Ground-based Unistellar Telescope Network. The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 940.2, 2022: L39. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/aca073
• Cazeneuve, D., et al., ODNET, The Astrophysical Journal, 165, 1, 11, 2023 https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2023MPBu…50…16L
• Sibbernsen, K. 2022. Electronic telescopes and their use in astronomy education. The Physics Teacher, 60(5), 394. https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0010401
• Barbosa, D., et al. 2022. Cyber-Cosmos: A new citizen science concept in a dark sky destination. Acta Astronaut. 200, 612–619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2022.09.008
• Pearson, K.A., et al., 2022. Utilizing a global network of telescopes to update the ephemeris for the highly eccentric planet HD 80606 b and to ensure the efficient scheduling of JWST. The Astronomical Journal 164.5 (2022): 178. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ac8dee
• Wang, X.-Y., et al., 2022. The Aligned Orbit of WASP-148b, the Only Known Hot Jupiter with a nearby Warm Jupiter Companion, from NEID and HIRES. The Astrophysical Journal Letters 926, L8. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ac4f44
• Dalba, P.A., et al., 2022. The TESS-Keck Survey. VIII. Confirmation of a Transiting Giant Planet on an Eccentric 261 Day Orbit with the Automated Planet Finder Telescope. The Astronomical Journal. 163, 61. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ac415b
• Marchis, F., Malvache, A., Marfisi, L., Borot, A., Arbouch, E., 2020. Unistellar eVscopes: Smart, portable, and easy-to-use telescopes for exploration, interactive learning, and citizen astronomy. Acta Astronaut. 166, 23–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2019.09.028
• Zellem, R.T., et al., 2020. Utilizing Small Telescopes Operated by Citizen Scientists for Transiting Exoplanet Follow-up. Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 132, 054401. https://doi.org/10.1088/1538-3873/ab7ee7

• Andrade, C., et al., GRANDMA Observations of SN 2023wrk, a Luminous Type Ia Supernova with Significant Unburned Carbon in the Outer Ejecta, Research Notes of the AAS, Volume 8, 273, 2024 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ad8bbb
• Graykowski, A. et al., Faint Comet Detection with Unistellar eVscopes, Research Notes of the AAS, Volume 8, Issue 2, id.41. , 2024 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ad25f9
• Sgro L. A., et al., Photometry of Type II Supernova SN 2023ixf with a Worldwide Citizen Science Network, Research Notes of the AAS, Volume 7, Issue 7, id.141, 2024 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ace41f/

• Daniel O’Conner Peluso, 2024. Democratizing & Enhancing Exoplanet Research with the Unistellar Citizen Science Network & Astronomy Modeling Instruction. Ph.D. by Publication, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia. https://research.usq.edu.au/item/z58xw/democratizing-enhancing-exoplanet-research-with-the-unistellar-citizen-science-network-astronomy-modeling-instruction

• P. Janin-Potiron, R. Cañameras, B. Neichel, M. Gray, F. Marchis, R. Lambert, F. Quere, G. Blaclard, A. Malvache, O. Beltramo-Martin, J. Cantegreil, P. Boutte, Y. Zancanaro, A. Gervail, C. M. Correia, 2024. Enhancing space surveillance through the Unistellar collaborative observation program. Proceedings Volume 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X; 1309455 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3018639
• Marchis, F., Esposito, T., Lambert, R., Dalba, P., 2022. New Astronomy with the Unistellar Network, in: IAC 2022 Congress Proceedings, 73rd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Paris, France.
• Lambert, R. A., et al., 2022. Citizen science astronomy with a network of small telescopes: the launch and deployment of JWST, in: Marshall, H.K., Spyromilio, J., Usuda, T. (Eds.), Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes IX, Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) Conference Series. p. 121822Z. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2628678
• Marchis, F., Esposito, T., Peluso, D., Blaclard, G., Asencio, J., Megowan-Romanowicz, C., Pennypacker, C., Carter, B., 2021. Outreach and scientific Results With The Largest Network of Backyard Astronomers — IAF Digital Library, in: IAC 2021 Congress Proceedings, 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Barbosa, D., Coelho, B., Bergano, M., Magalhães, C., Mendonça, D., Silva, D., Correia, A., Pandeirada, J., Ribeiro, V., Esposito, T., Marchis, F., 2021. Cyber-Cosmos: a new Citizen science concept in a Dark Sky Destination — IAF Digital Library, in: IAC 2021 Congress Proceedings, 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

• Marchis, F., Esposito, T. M., Hanuš, J., Pokorny, P., Lambert, R.A., Pilorz, S., Graykowski, A., and Sgro, L., 2025. SkyMapper: A Decentralized Platform for Enhancing Planetary Science through Global Telescopic Networks, EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-1038, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc-dps2025-1038, 2025.
• Pokorny, P., Hanus, J., Marchis, F., and Esposito, T. M., 2025: Detecting stellar occultations using machine-learning techniques and smart telescopes powered by citizen scientists, EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-982, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc-dps2025-982, 2025.
• Hanuš, J., Pokorný, P., Marchis, F., Lambert, R., Esposito, T. M., and Ďurech, J., 2025: Unistellar Network Contributions to the Physical Characterization of Asteroids through Lightcurves and Stellar Occultations, EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2025, EPSC-DPS2025-490, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc-dps2025-490, 2025.
• Graykowski, A., Marchis, F., Hanus, J., Lambert, R., Boyajian, T., Tanner, A., & the LUSTER Team, 2025. The LUSTER Mission Concept for Lunar-Based Asteroid and Comet Monitoring. EPSC-DPS2025-84, https://doi.org/10.5194/epsc-dps2025-84
• Graykowski, A., Lambert, R., Hanus, J., & Marchis, F., 2025. Solar System Astronomy with the Unistellar Citizen Science Network: Cometary Activity, Asteroid Occultations, and Planetary Defense. Bulletin of the AAS, 57(2). https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.c924491d
• Graykowski, A., 2025. The prevalence of the Unistellar network in the growing field of citizen astronomy. IFMacao: Macau International Forum on Space and Planetary Sciences. https://ifmacao.must.edu.mo/series/2025
• Sgro., L. A., 2025. Tackling TESS Transits with the SETI Institute and Unistellar Citizen Science Network. From Transits to Trends: The Next Decade of Long-Period Exoplants Workshop, UNM. https://transitstotrends.github.io/program/
• Marchis, F., Sgro, L.A., Esposito, T.M., Unistellar Citizen Astronomers, 2025. Confirming Giant Planets: Collaborative Discoveries through the Unistellar & SETI Institute Citizen Science Network.  245th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, id. 160.14. Bulletin of the AAS, Vol. 57, No. 2. https://ui-adsabs-harvard-edu.ezproxy.obspm.fr/abs/2025AAS…24516014M/abstract
• Esposito, T.M., Perrocheau, A., Sgro, L.A., Marchis, F., 2025. Transients 24/7: Rapid Transient Follow-up with the Unistellar Network, 245th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society, id. 323.02. Bulletin of the AAS, 57, No. 2. https://ui-adsabs-harvard-edu.ezproxy.obspm.fr/abs/2025AAS…24532302E/abstract
• Hanus, J., Marchis, F., Lambert, R.A., Esposito, T.M., Durech, J., 2024. Exploring Asteroids: Unraveling Physical Properties Through Citizen Science Astronomy. Europlanet Science Congress 2024, https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024EPSC…17..591H/abstract
• Marchis, F., Hanus, J., Lambert, R., Esposito, T.M., Durech, J., 2024.Asteroid Characterization via Citizen Science: Insights into Size, Shape, and Rotation. AGU Fall Meeting 2024, Poster No. 3019, id. P21E-3019. https://ui-adsabs-harvard-edu.ezproxy.obspm.fr/abs/2024AGUFMP21E.3019M/abstract
• Pokorny, P., Hanus, J., Marchis, F., Esposito, T.M., 2024. Detecting stellar occultations using machine-learning techniques and smart telescopes. AGU Fall Meeting 2024,  Poster No. 2932, id. P41E-2932. https://ui-adsabs-harvard-edu.ezproxy.obspm.fr/abs/2024AGUFMP41E.2932P/abstract
• Graykowski, A., Langin, G., Biver, N., Marchis, F., Citizen Scientists, Unistellar, Citizen Scientists, Association Francaise d’Astronomie, 2024. Unveiling the Decline: Tracking Comet 103P/Hartley 2’s Waning Activity. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, P23G-08. https://agu.confex.com/agu/agu24/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/1642881
• Graykowski, A., Langin, G., Biver, N., Marchis, F., Citizen Scientists, Unistellar, Citizen Scientists, Association Francaise d’Astronomie, 2024. Monitoring the Secular Decrease in Activity of Comet 103P/Hartley 2. Bulletin of the AAS, 56(8). https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.64cecc52
• Esposito, T. M., Sgro, L. A., Marchis, F. 2024. Results of Rapid Photometric Transient Follow-up with the Unistellar Network of Citizen Scientists, in: American Astronomical Society Meeting #243, id 449.05, Bulletin of the AAS, Vol. 56, No. 2. Contributed talk.
• Graykowski, A., Marchis, F., 2023. Cometary Monitoring & Citizen Science via Unistellar Network. AGU Fall Meeting, P44B-07. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023AGUFM.P44B..07G/abstract
• Graykowski, A., Lambert, R. A., Marchis, F., Cazeneuve, D., Dalba, P. A., et al. 2023. Citizen Science Observations of the Ejecta from Dimorphos after the DART Impact. in: Asteroids, Comets, Meteors Conference Abstracts. #2297
• Lambert, R.A., 2023. The Contributions of the Unistellar Citizen Science Network to Planetary Defense.  55th Annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences, id. 405.05. Bulletin of the AAS, Vol. 55, No. 8 https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023DPS….5540505L/abstract
• Graykowski, A., Lambert, R. A., Marchis, F., Esposito, T. M., Sgro, L. A., Weaver, I., Peluso, D. O’C., Dalba, P. A. 2023. Monitoring Variable Cometary Activity with Citizen Science Using the Unistellar Network. in: AAVSO 112 Annual Meeting Abstracts
• Sgro, L. A., Esposito, T. M., Marchis, F., Peluso, D. O., Graykowski, A., Lambert R. A., Weaver. I., 2023. Detecting Exoplanets with the SETI Institute & Unistellar’s Citizen Science Network, in: AAVSO 112th Annual Meeting Abstracts.
• Graykowski, A. and Marchis, F. 2023. Monitoring Cometary Activity and Characterizing the Outbursts of 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann and 12P/Pons-Brooks using Citizen Science Observations. in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. P44B-07
• Hanuš, J et al., 2023. Stellar Occultation by Asteroids: the contribution of Unistellar’s network of citizen astromnomers, 55th Annual Meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences, 312.04, Vol. 55,8
• Bruno Guillet, Tom Esposito, Arin Avsar, Franck Marchis, Daniel Peluso, and 130 citizen astronomers, 2022. Détections d’exoplanètes par des astronomes amateurs du réseau Unistellar, Posters aux journées 2022 de la SF2A, Besançon (France) Juin 2022
• Bruno Guillet, Franck Marchis, Joé Asencio, Ryan Lambert, Paul Dalba, Guillaume Blaclard, and several citizen astronomers, 2022. Détections d’astéroïdes et d’engins spatiaux par des astronomes amateurs du réseau Unistellar,  Posters aux journées 2022 de la SF2A, Besançon (France) Juin 2022
• Esposito, T. M., Avsar, A., Marchis, F., Dalba, P., Peluso, D., 2022. Hot and Cold Jupiters: Exoplanet Transit Results from the Unistellar Citizen Scientist Network, in: American Astronomical Society Meeting #240, id 339.07, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 54, No. 6 e-id 2022n6i339p07. Contributed talk.
• Hanus, J., Marchis, F., Asencio, J., Durech, J., 2021. Lightcurve observations of near-Earth asteroids with the Unistellar’s network of citizen astronomers, in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. SY55C-0361.
• Marchis, F., Esposito, T., Asencio, J., Klavans, V., Blaclard, G., Peluso, D.O., Megowan-Romanowicz, C., Pennypacker, C., 2021. Citizen Science and Scientific Results from the Worlds Largest Network of Backyard Astronomers, in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. SY55A-04.
• Hanus, J., Durech, J., Marchis, F., Asencio, J., Blaclard, G., 2021. Physical Properties of Near-Earth Asteroids, in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. P33A-02.
• Cazeneuve, D., Marchis, F., Blaclard, G., Asencio, J., Martin, V., 2021. Detection of Occultation Events by Machine Learning for the Unistellar Network, in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. P11B-12.
• Marchis, F., Asencio, J., Peluso, D., Durech, J., Vereš, P., Blaclard, G., Demuys, I., Nachury, L., 2021. The Contribution of the Unistellar Network for Planetary Defense: Empowering Crowd-sourcing Astronomy, in: 7th IAA Planetary Defense Conference. p. 271.
• Dunham, D., Dunham, J., Buie, M., Preston, S., Herald, D., Farnocchia, D., Giorgini, J., Arai, T., Sato, I., Nolthenius, R., Irwin, J., Degenhardt, S., Marshall, S., Moore, J., Whitehurst, S., Venable, R., Skrutskie, M., Marchis, F., Ye, Q., Tanga, P., Aissa, D.B., Grigahcene, Z., 2021. Accurate NEO Orbits from Occultation Observations, in: 7th IAA Planetary Defense Conference. p. 37.
• Esposito, T. M., Avsar, A., Peluso, D., Marchis, F., Santana, P., Klavans, V., Nachury, L., 2021. TESS Planet Candidate Follow-up by Citizen Scientists in the Global Unistellar eVscope Network, in: Posters from the TESS Science Conference II (TSC2), held virtually, id.155. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5131297.
• Marchis, F., Peluso, D., Esposito, T., Megowan-Romanowicz, C., Pennypacker, C., Unistellar Science Team, 2021. A Large Citizen Science Astronomy Network for All of Us, in: American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts, American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts. p. 412.06.
• Esposito, T. M., Marchis, F., Peluso, D., Avsar, A., Zellem, R. T., 2021. Transiting Exoplanet Followup by Citizen Scientists with the Global Unistellar eVscope Network, in: American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts, American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts. p. 239.03.
• Asencio, J., Marchis, F., Esposito, T., Veres, P., 2020. Planetary Defense With a Network of Compact, Smart and Low-Cost Digital Telescopes, in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. NH037-0008.
• Marchis, F., Esposito, T., Asencio, J., Demuys, I., Peluso, D., Veres, P., Zellem, R., Nachury, L., 2020. Enabling and Empowering Citizen Science in Astronomy With a Network of Small Digital & Smart Telescopes, in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. ED025-06.
• Marchis, F., Esposito, T., Asencio, J., Demuys, I., Peluso, D., Veres, P., Zellem, R., Hanus, J., Nachury, L., 2020. First Results With a Network of Small Digital & Smart Telescopes: Citizen Science For Astronomy, in: AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts, AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts. p. 413.02.
• Marchis, F., Esposito, T., Malvache, A., Peluso, D., Vereš, P., Hanuš, J., 2020. Unistellar: The largest citizen science astronomy network for all of us — IAF Digital Library, in: IAC 2020 Congress Proceedings, 71st International Astronautical Congress (IAC) — IAC CyberSpace Edition , 12–14 October 2020.
• Marchis, F., Arbouch, E., Peluso, D., Harman, P. K., Malvache, A., Bertin, E., Zellem, R., Veres, P., 2019. Citizen Science Astronomy with the Unistellar Network: From Planetary Defense to Exoplanet Transits, in: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. pp. ED14A-03.
• Marchis, F., Arbouch, E., Bertin, E., Malvache, A., Vereš, P., Zellem, R.T., 2019. Citizen Science Astronomy with the Unistellar Network: From Planetary Defense to Exoplanet Transits, in: EPSC-DPS Joint Meeting 2019. p. EPSC-DPS2019-898.