# The role of small telescopes as a ground-based support for exoplanetary space missions

## TL;DR

Small telescopes, especially 2-m class, are increasingly vital for ground-based follow-up of exoplanet candidates from space missions like TESS, PLATO, and ARIEL, enhancing exoplanet discovery and characterization.

## Contribution

The paper provides an overview of the role, requirements, and capabilities of 2-m class telescopes in supporting exoplanet space missions, with a focus on European facilities.

## Key findings

- Existing 2-m telescopes are capable of effective follow-up observations.
- European 2-m telescopes have significant potential for exoplanet candidate validation.
- Ground-based follow-up is crucial for confirming exoplanets detected by space missions.

## Abstract

Small telescopes equiped with modern instrumentation are gaining on importance, especially, in the era of exoplanetary space missions such as TESS, PLATO and ARIEL. Crucial part of every planet hunting mission is now a ground-based follow-up of detectd planetary candidates. Mid-sized telescopes with apertures of 2 to 4-m with an existing instrumentation become more and more valued due to increasing need for observing time. In this paper, a brief overview on the follow-up process for exoplanetary space missions will be given. Requirements for the ground-based follow-up instrumentation will be discussed. Some of existing 2-m class telescope facilities and their capability and potential for the follow-up process of exoplanetary candidates will be presented. A special focus will be put on existing 2-m class telescopes in central Europe.