Planets and Moons
ID: 12018
Astronomers have used many different methods to discover planets beyond the solar system, but the most successful by far is transit photometry, which measures changes in a star's brightness caused by a mini-eclipse. When a planet crosses in front of its star along our line of sight, it blocks some of the star's light. If the dimming lasts for a set amount of time and occurs at regular intervals, it likely means an exoplanet is passing in front of, or transiting, the star once every orbital period.
NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has used this technique to become the most successful planet-hunting spacecraft to date, with more than a thousand established discoveries and many more awaiting confirmation. Missions carrying improved technology are now planned, but how much more can they tell us about alien planetary systems similar to our own?
A great deal, according to recently published studies by Michael Hippke at the Institute for Data Analysis in Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany, and Daniel Angerhausen, a postdoctoral researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. They show that in the best-case scenarios upcoming missions could uncover planetary moons, ringed worlds similar to Saturn, and even large collections of asteroids.
Looking for the Shadows of New Worlds
NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope has used this technique to become the most successful planet-hunting spacecraft to date, with more than a thousand established discoveries and many more awaiting confirmation. Missions carrying improved technology are now planned, but how much more can they tell us about alien planetary systems similar to our own?
A great deal, according to recently published studies by Michael Hippke at the Institute for Data Analysis in Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany, and Daniel Angerhausen, a postdoctoral researcher at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. They show that in the best-case scenarios upcoming missions could uncover planetary moons, ringed worlds similar to Saturn, and even large collections of asteroids.
Related
For More Information
http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/finding-new-worlds-with-a-play-of-light-and-shadow
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/810/1/29/meta
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/811/1/1/meta
Credits
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Lead Producer
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Animator
Francis Reddy (Syneren Technologies): Lead Writer
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Writer
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Lead Editor
Daniel Angerhausen (ORAU): Scientist
Daniel Angerhausen (ORAU): Interviewee
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Narrator
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Animator
Francis Reddy (Syneren Technologies): Lead Writer
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Writer
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Lead Editor
Daniel Angerhausen (ORAU): Scientist
Daniel Angerhausen (ORAU): Interviewee
Scott Wiessinger (USRA): Narrator
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. However, individual items should be credited as indicated above.
Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12018
Missions:
TESS
Kepler
This item is part of these series:
Narrated Movies
Astrophysics Features
Goddard TV Tape:
G2015-081 -- Photometry
Keywords:
SVS >> Asteroid
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Jupiter
SVS >> Transit
SVS >> Venus
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Solar System
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
SVS >> Saturn
SVS >> Exoplanet
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12018
Missions:
TESS
Kepler
This item is part of these series:
Narrated Movies
Astrophysics Features
Goddard TV Tape:
G2015-081 -- Photometry
Keywords:
SVS >> Asteroid
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Jupiter
SVS >> Transit
SVS >> Venus
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Solar System
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
SVS >> Saturn
SVS >> Exoplanet
