Can Amateur Telescopes Detect Exoplanets?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the possibility of detecting exoplanets using amateur telescopes, exploring methods such as direct imaging, transit detection, and radial velocity techniques. Participants examine the technological advancements that have enabled amateur astronomers to contribute to exoplanet discovery and the challenges associated with these methods.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that while direct imaging of exoplanets is nearly impossible with amateur equipment due to brightness issues, transit detection is feasible by measuring light output from host stars.
  • One participant shares personal experience using an 8-inch telescope to detect exoplanet transits, emphasizing the importance of knowing where to look.
  • Another participant notes that the development of CCD detectors has significantly improved the ability of amateurs to conduct accurate photometric measurements necessary for detecting transits.
  • There is a discussion about the relative effectiveness of transit detection versus radial velocity methods, with some arguing that transits can be easier to detect with smaller telescopes compared to the requirements for radial velocity measurements.
  • Participants express curiosity about the frequency of transits and the factors that influence their detectability, such as the size of the planets and their orbital characteristics.
  • Some participants speculate on the potential number of undetected exoplanets, suggesting that larger planets are more easily discovered compared to smaller ones.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that amateur telescopes can detect exoplanet transits, but there is no consensus on the overall effectiveness of different detection methods or the implications of orbital characteristics on transit frequency.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention limitations related to the alignment of planetary systems for transit detection and the challenges of confirming exoplanet status through radial velocity methods, indicating that many potential transits may require further verification.

Who May Find This Useful

Astronomy enthusiasts, amateur astronomers, and individuals interested in exoplanet research may find this discussion relevant, particularly those exploring the capabilities of amateur equipment in scientific discovery.

SpaceDreamer
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Is it possible to detect exoplanets with amateur telescopes? If so what size would be needed. I have seen some amateur protoplanetary disks pictures and would one be able to tell if an exoplanet existed in it as I carved out the material for planet formation? Is it possible for us with current technology to conduct spectrography on an exoplanet?

Thanks.
 
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It is pretty much impossible to directly image an exoplanet using amateur equipment. They are simply too close to their stars and the stars are too bright. However you can easily detect an exoplanet transit by measuring the light output of the host star. I have done that myself using an 8 inch scope.
 
Drakkith said:
It is pretty much impossible to directly image an exoplanet using amateur equipment. They are simply too close to their stars and the stars are too bright. However you can easily detect an exoplanet transit by measuring the light output of the host star. I have done that myself using an 8 inch scope.

That is very impressive! If you can do that (with the greatest respect) how come it is only recently that they've been finding expoplanets - bearing in mind the thousands of enthusiastic amateurs involved. But I guess you already knew where to look?
 
sophiecentaur said:
That is very impressive! If you can do that (with the greatest respect) how come it is only recently that they've been finding expoplanets - bearing in mind the thousands of enthusiastic amateurs involved. But I guess you already knew where to look?

Yep. I already knew where to look. Plus, the idea was only developed in the last two decades. So even though its really easy, we just didn't know it was possible until lately. Also, amateurs only have had access to CCD detectors in the last decade, so amateur detection of these planets was pretty much impossible before then as there was no way to get accurate photometric measurements from film. (At least not the accuracy you need to detect exoplanet transits)
 
I guess the CCDs for all made all the difference. I remember a talk at School from 'Kevin' of 'Planet Kevin' (a young Australian, if I remember right) a little over ten years ago and he was describing a 'doppler shift' detection system, based on the wobble caused by large planets around stars. Then the brightness variation method reared its head. I guess the chances of transits is less than the chances of finding a wobble? What's the state of things?
 
The radial velocity detection method is much more likely to be noticed, as the system doesn't have to line up almost perfectly edge on. However, the more edge on it is, the easier it is to detect the doppler shift, so it still matters some. BUT transits that do happen can be easier to detect than small doppler shifts, as even small telescopes can detect large transiting exoplanets, while it takes very large telescopes to gather enough light and have enough resolution to detect the doppler shift.

The other issues is that plenty of events happen that look like transits, so practically all discovered transiting exoplanets had to be double checked using the radial velocity method before being "confirmed" as exoplanets.
 
. . . . so you can only see the occasional rare transit and not an 'annual' one, presumably? I'm basing that on the infrequent occurrence of the transit of Venus, seen from Earth. It seems a very hit and miss affair. How do the numbers work? Does it require large planets?
 
sophiecentaur said:
. . . . so you can only see the occasional rare transit and not an 'annual' one, presumably? I'm basing that on the infrequent occurrence of the transit of Venus, seen from Earth. It seems a very hit and miss affair. How do the numbers work? Does it require large planets?

It depends on the orbital characteristics really. Most transiting exoplanets we have discovered have regular transits. It probably helps that our own orbital motion matters very little, unlike the transit of Venus.

Larger planets block more light and are easier to detect, so we have a very large amount of those detected compared with terrestrial size planets. However we are discovering smaller planets and more of them all the time.
 
Drakkith said:
It depends on the orbital characteristics really. Most transiting exoplanets we have discovered have regular transits. It probably helps that our own orbital motion matters very little, unlike the transit of Venus.

Larger planets block more light and are easier to detect, so we have a very large amount of those detected compared with terrestrial size planets. However we are discovering smaller planets and more of them all the time.

That's what makes all the difference, I suppose. I hadn't thought of that.
There must be so many more that we don't see - a factor of a hundred or more.
The details of other peoples' fields are always fascinating. Cheers for the insight.
 
  • #10
Heh, I like how you say fields like I'm actually a real astronomer.
 
  • #11
Drakkith said:
Heh, I like how you say fields like I'm actually a real astronomer.

If you've got it, flaunt it Ducky! :biggrin:
 
  • #12
sophiecentaur said:
If you've got it, flaunt it Ducky! :biggrin:

Lol. Gimme a few years and I may have it.
 

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