Do Some Extrasolar Planets Orbit Around Stars in Such a Way That We Cannot See Them?

-- Patrick | February 21, 2022

a bright blue young star with a cloud of cold gas surrounding it

Question:

Locating planets around stars by detecting a slight dimming of the light. Do planets lie in the same observable plain, or do some star’s planets rotate in a non observable plain?

-- Patrick

Answer:

We can only see the dimming of a star from a planet that crosses the face of the star from our perspective. If an extrasolar planet orbits in a different plane, we cannot observe its dimming effect on the star’s light. In order to estimate the total number extrasolar planets we need to correct for this unobservable group of extrasolar planets.

-- Jeff Mangum

Facebook

Twitter

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
	AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.