Measuring Radial Velocity with Amateur Equipment

Drakkith · Jun 8, 2012

Would it be possible to measure the radial velocity of stars with large exoplanets using amateur equipment?

hipparchos · Jun 8, 2012

Drakkith said:

Would it be possible to measure the radial velocity of stars with large exoplanets using amateur equipment?

Probably not. Amateur equipment is designed for images, not spectra. Beyond that, getting a RV from a spectrum is tricky and generally gives low-precision results. Only in the past couple of decades have professional techniques emerged that have allowed high-precision RVs needed to detect planets.

Measuring Radial Velocity with Amateur Equipment

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