Exoplanet Transit

“There are infinite worlds both like and unlike this world of ours.” Epicurus (300 BCE) We now know that thousands of planets around other stars (aka exoplanets) exist and many are unlike those in our Solar System. The main way we have discovered them is through the transit method. As a planet orbits its host star, it may transit the face of its star from Earth’s vantage point and block a portion of the light. The change in starlight can be measured to construct a light curve - graphs showing the starlight received over a period of time. When the exoplanet passes in front of the star, the light curve will show a dip in brightness. When the planet is not in front of its star, the light curve remains constant in brightness. Transits can be used to study the planetary radii, orbital period, orbital distance, atmospheric composition, and planetary temperature of these faraway planets.