exoplanet detection techniques

Exoplanets are detected using several methods: the transit method observes tiny dips in a star's brightness when a planet passes in front of it; the radial velocity technique measures the star's "wobble" caused by gravitational pull from an orbiting planet; direct imaging captures pictures of planets by blocking out their star's light; and gravitational microlensing detects planets through the bending of light when a star with planets passes in front of another star. These methods help scientists identify planets beyond our solar system and understand their characteristics.