-
By:
- Faseweb
- 46 Comments
- Tags: Exoplanets
Exoplanets

Have you ever stared at the stars and wondered about the vastness of space? You must’ve pondered the question are we the only beings out there? Astronomy has come a long way from believing that we are the only world to being the center of the universe to being a small spec of dust in a seemingly infinitely Universe. In our long journey along the advancements of Astronomy we have discovered many heavenly objects including planets, stars, comets etc. not just in our Solar system but outside our solar system as well, and yet the hunt for discovering more and more celestial objects continues. One of the aims of this never-ending quest being the discovery of another planet harboring life as our own.
Exoplanets are one such group of celestial objects discovered during this quest of uncovering the truths about the Universe. Exoplanets are planets which exist outside our Solar system. What makes Exoplanets such an interesting group of celestial objects is that they cannot produce their own light hence they are often too dim to be observed even with the most powerful of telescopes we have. But by observing the various effects the exoplanets exert on the physical properties around it, it is possible to hypothesize the existence of such planets and furthermore confirm its existence using other known methods of observations.
For centuries scientists, philosophers, and science fiction writers suspected that extrasolar planets existed, but there was no way of knowing whether they existed, how common they were, or how similar they might be to the planets of our Solar System. Various detection claims made in the nineteenth century were rejected by astronomers.
The first confirmation of detection of an exoplanet occurred in 1992. This was followed by the confirmation of a different planet, originally detected in 1988. As of 24 April 2020, there are 4,255 confirmed exoplanets in 3,146 systems, with 695 systems having more than one planet. The closest exoplanet found is Proxima Centauri b, which was confirmed in 2016 to orbit Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System. Even still it is 4.25 light years away from Earth (light from Proxima Centuari B will take 4.25 years to reach Earth)
Generally, exoplanets are named using the parent star around which they revolve. For example, the first exoplanet discovered was named HIP 65426b as it revolves around the star HIP 65426. The parent star is considered HIP 65426a. Any subsequently discovered exoplanets will be named c, d etc.

The most interesting aspects about exoplanets are the methods and techniques used for their detection. There are many methods used for exoplanet detection each having its own merits. One single method is not accredited as the best method of detection, instead the method is chosen depends on the general distances concerned and the sizes of the exoplanet and brightness of the parent star concerned and many other factors as such.
One such method is the method of radial velocity. Any two masses which revolve around each will revolve around a common center of mass. Hence a planet that revolving around a star if large enough, the plant may cause the sun to move in a smaller orbit of its own around the planet. Hence when the star moves away and toward the earth it causes the lengthening and shortening of the wavelength of the light emitted from the star. This is known as Dopplers effect ( The same reason why you hear sound at a higher frequency when you hear an ambulance coming toward you and a lower frequency when going away) This variation in the observed wavelength can be used to find the velocity of revolution of the parent star and using the period taken to observe these variations, the mass and the relative position of the exoplanet can be calculated.

Another method is Gravitational microlensing. Ever since Einstein’s theory of relativity gravity is regarded to bend space time itself. In simpler terms, bodies with large masses with a large enough gravitational pull can essentially attract light rays towards it just like the Earth attracts an apple detached from a tree. So, the pathway of light becomes bent and distorted due to large masses and tend to act as a lens, and even smaller distortions can occur due to smaller mass bodies such as exoplanets. This phenomenon is known as gravitational microlensing. The distortions of a distant light source can then be studied in order to detect the presence of exoplanets.

Transit photometry is another such popular method. When a planet revolving around a star may happen to come in front of the star (between the star and the observer on earth) this phenomenon is known as planetary transits. During the transit period the light emitted from the star is diminished and this can be shown as evidence as the presence of exoplanets. Using the period of the transit and the amount of light that is diminished we can pinpoint the location the planet and also make estimations of its mass.
The above are just a few examples of the many methods used in the detection of exoplanets. As the size and quality of the telescopes we use improve and the improvements in new techniques of Astronomical observations the detection of exoplanets are becoming increasingly common and more accurate.
As more planets are discovered, the field of exoplanetology continues to grow it will ultimately tackle the prospect of the presence life on planets beyond the Solar System. At cosmic distances, detection of life is quite a challenge but we can safely assume a potentially habitable planet must orbit a stable star at a distance within which sufficient atmospheric pressure can support liquid water at their surfaces.
But in the this vastly infinite Universe one thing you can guarantee about exoplanets is that we will find more of them!!
~Nethsara Kekulawala~
46 comments
-
-
excellent points altogether, you simply gained a new reader. What would you recommend about your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?
-
Hola Mazhar,
-
Amazon also isn t clear on how your purchase information is handled, which may be a privacy concern for some where to buy cialis cheap
-
gov NCT02835079 lasix action OptoXR technology has been used to study the activity of several brain regions and systems
-
See our weight loss guide like best Weight loss HCG drops
-
Probiotic-supplements are a way to add good bacteria to your body. natural and safe Best Probiotic Supplements for gut health Probiotics are good bacteria that help keep you healthy.
-
Kalu DN, et al buy cheap cialis discount online
-
stromectol 12mg online If you are taking birth control pills or hormonal medication, talk to your physician before taking calcium
-
Preparation of protein lysates and the proximity ligation assay PLA stromectol maker
-
Everyone loves it whenever people get together and share views. Great blog, keep it up!
-
tamoxifen adverse effects February 24, 2022 at 3 38 am
-
Jackson, USA 2022 06 27 04 13 46 tamoxifen and endometrial cancer
-
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post. Also, I’ve shared your website in my social networks!
-
Whats up are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!
-
Hey there are using WordPress for your blog platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!Visit my website; tracfone special coupon 2022
-
I think that is among the most important info for me.
And i’m glad reading your article. But should observation on few
normal issues, The web site style is ideal, the
articles is in point of fact excellent : D. Good
process, cheersLook into my web site; tracfone special coupon 2022
-
In Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science whoesale levitra pills Robin tOoOyNvzJSFXF 6 19 2022
-
Ana deployed Shun Yuan Jiang s S 30 cells stably transfected with the wild type ER gene and Bill Catherino s BC 2 cells stably transfected with Asp351Tyr to determine whether keoxifene, a failed breast cancer drug with none of the estrogen like properties of tamoxifen, would have a different molecular pharmacology via the Asp 351Tyr ER at a TGFО± target order lasix cheap
-
The hair parameters were characterized by cross section CS and form factor FF furosemide lasix verapamil will increase the level or effect of erythromycin base by affecting hepatic intestinal enzyme CYP3A4 metabolism
-
I cling on to listening to the rumor speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i find some?
-
Hello fasesl.com admin, Good job!
-
Du, Michael J priligy dapoxetina 30mg nos eua Biankin AV et al 2012 Pancreatic cancer genomes reveal aberrations in axon guidance pathway genes
-
Hello fasesl.com webmaster, Your posts are always well-formatted and easy to read.
-
To the fasesl.com admin, Keep up the good work!
-
Dear fasesl.com administrator, Your posts are always insightful and valuable.
-
2007; 22 6 1657 1661 cheap viagra tablet In this method, healthy sperm are washed and inserted into the uterus
-
cheap cialis online In some patients, skin breakdown and delayed healing have been noted PH personal observation
-
However, I ve also seen a lot of people saying that LGD is minimally suppressive and as long as I m not running high doses 10 mg for long periods 9- 12 weeks best cialis online
-
Hello fasesl.com administrator, Your posts are always informative.
-
Hello fasesl.com administrator, You always provide clear explanations and step-by-step instructions.
-
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, liver, or kidney disease generic cialis tadalafil the harmful effects of a disorder
-
You can find whatever from CBD coffee to bath salts and lube cialis online pharmacy
-
Hi fasesl.com webmaster, Thanks for the well-researched and well-written post!
-
Hello fasesl.com owner, Your posts are always a great source of knowledge.
-
Rennison DJ, Owens GL, Allison WT, Taylor JS cialis 10mg I picked the tea again
-
Hello fasesl.com owner, Thanks for the well-researched and well-written post!
-
generic cialis online 2007, 26 1636 1644
-
To the fasesl.com owner, Thanks for the well written post!
-
To the fasesl.com owner, Your posts are always well-received and appreciated.
-
To the fasesl.com administrator, Good job!
-
Hello fasesl.com admin, You always provide great information and insights.
-
To the fasesl.com administrator, Keep the good content coming!
-
Everyone loves what you guys tend to be up too. Such clever work and reporting!
Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my
blogroll. -
Dear fasesl.com administrator, Keep up the good work!
-
I appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.
what does vapa stand for