Transcript Methods Of Discovering Extra solar Planets.

Methods Of Discovering Extra
solar Planets.
Elliot Thompson
Methods to detect Extra solar Planets
• There are many methods to detect Extra Solar
planets. They are known as: Astrometry,
Wobble Detection, Radial Velocity, Transit
Photometry, Direct Imagining, and
Chorography.
The problems of finding Extra Solar
planets!
• Some of the problems to find planets around
other stars is that they give off no light.
• Some of the others are they are small
compared to the star and the affects on the
star are small.
• Lastly the methods aren’t able to detect earth
planets yet. (easily)
Method 1: Astrometry.
• Astrometry is a branch of astronomy. What these
dudes do is they measure the position and the
movements of stars.
• To use these movement they look at star to see if
it is moving. If its not moving than the star might
not have a planet(s). Basically they look for an
abnormality in the stars movement.
• To use this method is that they need to have the
movement down for the star they are looking at.
If the star is moving in a strange way then a
planet could be there. (see next slide)
Method 2: Wobble Detection
• This method goes hand in hand with the
astrometry.
• Once they find out the stars movement, then
they look for if the star is moving in real life.
• The affects of the planet will be small yet it
will be detectable. Of course large planets will
be doing this affect.
• The downside to this is that large planets
could be doing the wobble dance.
Method 3: Radial Velocity!
• Radial Velocity is one of the motions of the
star does known as stellar motion.
• Radial Velocity is use in redshift. As it will be
altered slightly when a planet goes by.
• To use radial velocity astronomers look for an
altercation in the movement of the star,
Possibly from a planet.
• Radial velocity can only detect large planets or
planets close to the star itself.
Method 4: Transit Photometry!
• This method is rarely used, by that the planet
and the star must be aligned in the direction
astronomers are looking at.
• That is the only time astronomers used this
method, but it is vital and can be used if
needed.
Method 5: Direct Imagining!
• This method needs the other four in order to
use the method to the full extent.
• This method is difficult since the planet is
small compared to the star and will be hard to
find since light will be a factor.
Method 6: Coronagraph!
• We all know the stars have a corona and can
be detect with telescopes.
• To use this method they look at the corona of
the star to see if its being block from a planet.
What has been detected.
• The planets so far that has been detected are
large planets.
• The large planets are mostly gas giants close
to the star.
• they are known as “Hot Jupiters”.
• Super earths has been detected.
What are hot jupiters?
• Hot jupiters are gas giants that is close to the star
and very hot.
• The average temperature of this hot giants range
from 1,700 to 1,200 degrees F.
• The hot Jupiters can orbit the wrong way. What it
means the star will be going one way while the
planet goes the other way.
• To make thing even weirder the jupiters rotation
is in tide lock.
• Tide lock means they don’t rotate. One side will
always face the star.
What are super Earths?
• A super earth is one of the detected planets
that has been detected using the methods of
this piece.
• Super earth are bigger than the earth itself.
How big will 2, 5 or 10 time the mass of the
earth.
• Of course the super earths may not hold life.
They could be close to the sun or they could
be away from the inhabited zone.
cited
• "'Hot Jupiter' Puzzle Explained : Discovery News." Discovery News:
Earth, Space, Tech, Animals, History, Adventure, Human, Autos. AFP,
11 May 2011. Web. 28 July 2011.
<http://news.discovery.com/space/hot-jupiter-exoplanet-solarsystem-110511.html>.
• "Detecting Extra-Solar Planets." Library.thinkguest.org.
Astrobiology: The Living Universe. Web. 27 July 2011.
<http://library.thinkquest.org/C003763/index.php?page=planet08>.
•
Rodriguez, Joshua. "NASA - Earth On Steroids? Unraveling the
Mystery of Super-Earths." NASA - Home. Planetquest, 19 Feb. 2009.
Web. 28 July 2011.
<http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/super_earths.html
>.