Exoplanets

Front

What is an exoplanet?

Back

A planet outside our solar system.

Front

Which telescope is expected to provide new information about exoplanets?

Back

James Webb Space Telescope.

Front

What discovery method has found more exoplanets than any other?

Back

Transit method.

Front

What happens during a transit of an exoplanet?

Back

A planet passes in front of the star it is orbiting.

Front

What can be determined by observing a planet and its star?

Back

Radius, orbital period, and density.

Front

What is the radial velocity method?

Back

A technique used to detect exoplanets by measuring the star's motion due to gravitational pull from an orbiting planet.

Front

What is direct imaging in the context of exoplanets?

Back

A method that involves capturing images of exoplanets directly, often by blocking out the star's light.

Front

What is microlensing?

Back

A method of detecting exoplanets by observing the light from a distant star that is bent by the gravitational field of a planet.

Front

What is the significance of the habitable zone?

Back

The region around a star where conditions may be suitable for life, often where liquid water can exist.

Front

What is the difference between a gas giant and a terrestrial planet?

Back

Gas giants are large planets composed mostly of gases, while terrestrial planets are rocky and have solid surfaces.