  The study of transiting extrasolar planets is only 15 years old, but has
matured into a rich area of research. I review the observational aspects of
this work, concentrating on the discovery of transits, the characterisation of
planets from photometry and spectroscopy, the Homogeneous Studies project,
starspots, orbital obliquities, and the atmospheric properties of the known
planets. I begin with historical context and conclude with a glance to a future
of TESS, CHEOPS, Gaia and PLATO.
