Future Telescopes Could be Seeing the Wrong Planets – Universe Today
[ad_1]
We have discovered thousands of exoplanets in recent years, including some that are Earth-sized and potentially habitable. But we haven’t seen many of those worlds. Most of the exoplanets we’ve found have been discovered using the transit method, which involves watching the brightness of a star dip as a planet passes in front of it. We can learn the size and sometimes the mass from these dips, but we have no idea what the world looks like, or whether it has a breathable atmosphere.
Fortunately, that will change in the near future. New telescopes scheduled to be launched in the next decade, such as the Nancy Grace Roman telescope, will be able to directly image Earth-sized exoplanets. But as a new study shows, that by itself won’t be enough. We’ll also have to make sure we’re imaging the right planets.
It’s very difficult to observe a planet directly. Compared to their star, they are small and dim, so their light can be hidden by the brilliance of their sun. Astronomers have developed a few methods to block nearby starlight from a planetary image, such as the coronagraph method, and as a result, we have directly imaged a handful of exoplanets. These planets tend to be Jupiter-like and orbit a good distance from their star. The Roman telescope will use more sophisticated methods, and astronomers have proposed advanced methods such as a starshade to block starlight. So it’s only a matter of time before we will directly observe small planets orbiting close to their star.
But being able to see more exoplanets will also make things more confusing. In this latest study, the team simulated how different types of planets might appear under direct imaging, and they found that very different types of planets could be misidentified. At a broad level, larger planets will tend to be brighter than smaller ones, and planets with a larger orbit will tend to appear farther from their star. But the brightness of a planet depends not only on its size but also its albedo. An icy world is much brighter than a charcoal one.
For orbits, there is a similar effect. If a planet’s orbit is flat-on from our point of view, then we will always see it a good distance from the star. But if it has an edge-on orbit, the planet will usually be seen close to the star. Because of these effects, a small, close world might appear large and distant, while a large distant planet might appear small and close. When the team ran their simulations, they found that an Earth-like world could be confused with a Mercury-like world 36% of the time. It could be confused with a Mars-like planet 43% of the time and a Venus-like one 72% of the time.
What this means is that future exoplanet surveys won’t be able to capture a few images and move on. It will take a long series of observations to confirm the orbits and sizes of the exoplanets we can see. Astronomers will need to be careful so that they don’t end up in a land of confusion.
Reference: Keithly, Dean Robert, and Dmitry Savransky. “The Solar System as an Exosystem: Planet Confusion.” The Astrophysical Journal Letters 919.1 (2021): L11.
[ad_2]
Original Post
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You clearly know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could be giving us something informative to read?
I have recently started a blog, the info you offer on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work. “One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea.” by Walter Bagehot.
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
Somebody essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Excellent job!
I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site :).
Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your super writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content for yourself? I wouldn’t mind publishing a post or elaborating on some of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome web log!
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!
Thank you for sharing with us, I conceive this website genuinely stands out : D.
It¦s really a great and useful piece of information. I am happy that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Some genuinely nice and utilitarian info on this website, as well I think the layout has got great features.
After research a couple of of the blog posts in your website now, and I really like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and might be checking again soon. Pls take a look at my web site as well and let me know what you think.
I’ll immediately take hold of your rss as I can not find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly let me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Hello! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I really enjoy reading your articles. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same topics? Appreciate it!
Good write-up, I¦m regular visitor of one¦s blog, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all people you actually recognize what you are speaking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also consult with my site =). We could have a link trade arrangement between us!
Greetings! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
I’m commenting to make you understand what a fabulous encounter my cousin’s princess undergone reading through your web site. She noticed a lot of issues, including what it is like to have a great teaching spirit to get many people completely comprehend various advanced matters. You really exceeded our expected results. Thank you for offering such essential, dependable, edifying as well as easy thoughts on that topic to Mary.
Hello there, You’ve done a fantastic job. I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…
Saved as a favorite, I really like your blog!
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you have on this site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What a perfect site.
I carry on listening to the news bulletin speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i acquire some?
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
I love the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great posts.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch as I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
You are my breathing in, I have few web logs and occasionally run out from to brand : (.
Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 30 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now broken and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
Utterly pent subject matter, Really enjoyed studying.
I haven’t checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
The next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I mean, I know it was my choice to read, but I actually thought youd have something interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you could fix if you werent too busy looking for attention.
What is Boostaro? Boostaro revolutionizes romantic performance enhancement through its reliance on the wisdom of natural ingredients
Thank you for sharing with us, I think this website really stands out : D.
I have learn a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot effort you set to make the sort of fantastic informative web site.
Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you ever been blogging for?
you made running a blog glance easy. The total look of your site is fantastic, as neatly as the
content material! You can see similar here najlepszy sklep
What i do not realize is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you may be now. You’re very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from a lot of varied angles. Its like men and women aren’t fascinated unless it is one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs nice. Always maintain it up!
I feel this is among the so much significant information for me. And i am satisfied reading your article. However should statement on few general things, The site taste is perfect, the articles is really excellent : D. Good task, cheers
whoah this blog is magnificent i love reading your articles. Keep up the good work! You know, lots of people are hunting around for this info, you could help them greatly.