On the hunt for new exoplanets A state-of-the-art instrument called NEID, from the Tohono O’odham word meaning ‘to see,’ has officially started its scientific mission: discovering new planets outside of the solar system. The NEID fiber feed mounted on the WIYN telescope obtained during commissioning of the instrument. This state-of-the-art spectrometer has officially started its scientific mission of discovering new exoplanets. (Image: NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory/KPNO/NSF/AURA) A powerful new tool for discovering planets outside of the solar system has officially started its scientific mission. NEID is a state-of-the-art spectrometer that collected its preliminary “first light” in early 2020 and now, after some delays due to the pandemic, is fully operational.