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The Detection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planets

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  • Ken Rice

    (Institute for Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK)

Abstract

We have now confirmed the existence of > 1800 planets orbiting stars other thanthe Sun; known as extrasolar planets or exoplanets. The different methods for detectingsuch planets are sensitive to different regions of parameter space, and so, we are discoveringa wide diversity of exoplanets and exoplanetary systems. Characterizing such planets isdifficult, but we are starting to be able to determine something of their internal compositionand are beginning to be able to probe their atmospheres, the first step towards the detectionof bio-signatures and, hence, determining if a planet could be habitable or not. Here, Iwill review how we detect exoplanets, how we characterize exoplanetary systems and theexoplanets themselves, where we stand with respect to potentially habitable planets and howwe are progressing towards being able to actually determine if a planet could host life or not.

Suggested Citation

  • Ken Rice, 2014. "The Detection and Characterization of Extrasolar Planets," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-28, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jchals:v:5:y:2014:i:2:p:296-323:d:40455
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christian Marois & B. Zuckerman & Quinn M. Konopacky & Bruce Macintosh & Travis Barman, 2010. "Images of a fourth planet orbiting HR 8799," Nature, Nature, vol. 468(7327), pages 1080-1083, December.
    2. Andrew W. Howard & Roberto Sanchis-Ojeda & Geoffrey W. Marcy & John Asher Johnson & Joshua N. Winn & Howard Isaacson & Debra A. Fischer & Benjamin J. Fulton & Evan Sinukoff & Jonathan J. Fortney, 2013. "A rocky composition for an Earth-sized exoplanet," Nature, Nature, vol. 503(7476), pages 381-384, November.
    3. Ignas A. G. Snellen & Bernhard R. Brandl & Remco J. de Kok & Matteo Brogi & Jayne Birkby & Henriette Schwarz, 2014. "Fast spin of the young extrasolar planet β Pictoris b," Nature, Nature, vol. 509(7498), pages 63-65, May.
    4. Jérémy Leconte & Francois Forget & Benjamin Charnay & Robin Wordsworth & Alizée Pottier, 2013. "Increased insolation threshold for runaway greenhouse processes on Earth-like planets," Nature, Nature, vol. 504(7479), pages 268-271, December.
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