Theoretical and Natural Science
- The Open Access Proceedings Series for Conferences
Vol. 28, 26 December 2023
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This paper has introduced and examined some methods to generally distinguish whether an exoplanet is terrestrial, with the help of available data. These methods include analysing the exoplanet's orbital period, size, distance from the star, and density. By comparing these properties with the known characteristics of terrestrial planets, we can make an informed judgment about whether an exoplanet is terrestrial or not. Using the transit method, we can find an exoplanet and determine its orbital period and size. By applying Kepler's Third Law together with the radial velocity method, we can calculate the star-planet distance and the planet's density, respectively. However, it is important to note that these methods have their limitations and uncertainties. The transit method is limited by the probability of observing a transit due to randomly oriented planet systems, and the radial velocity method is only highly receptive to detecting massive planets in close proximity to the stars they orbit. Additionally, certain astrophysical phenomena can lead to false positives in exoplanet detection. Despite these limitations, the methods presented in this paper provide a foundation for determining the likelihood of an exoplanet being terrestrial. As technology advances and our understanding of exoplanets expands, we will continue to refine these methods and develop new ones, improving our ability to explore terrestrial planets and potentially discover life beyond our solar system.
terrestrial planets, exoplanets, space exploration, earth-like planets, transit method, radial velocity method
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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.
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