exoplanet discovery methods

Exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, are discovered mainly through two methods. The transit method detects tiny dips in a star's brightness when a planet crosses in front of it, like a mini-eclipse. The radial velocity method measures the star's slight wobble caused by a planet’s gravity, using the Doppler shift of its light. Both techniques require precise observations over time. These methods help identify and characterize exoplanets, revealing their size, orbit, and sometimes atmospheric properties, expanding our understanding of planets beyond our solar system.