Exoplanet Discovery

Exoplanet discovery involves detecting planets outside our solar system by observing the effects they have on their host stars. Techniques include the transit method, where scientists watch for slight dimming of a star as a planet passes in front, and the Doppler or radial velocity method, which detects star wobbles caused by a planet’s gravitational pull. Space telescopes like Kepler and TESS have been instrumental in finding thousands of exoplanets. These discoveries help us understand planet formation, diversity, and the potential for life beyond Earth.