radial velocity method

The radial velocity method is a technique used by astronomers to detect exoplanets—planets outside our solar system. It involves measuring the wobble of a star caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet. As the planet orbits, it causes the star to move slightly towards and away from us, leading to changes in the star's light spectrum. By analyzing these Doppler shifts in the light, scientists can determine the planet's presence, its mass, and its orbit. This method has been crucial in discovering many of the known exoplanets today.