Planet Composition: Star Glare & Wavelengths

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of star glare on the wavelengths of light transmitted or reflected by a planet as it passes in front of a star. Participants explore how this interaction may influence the determination of a planet's composition through spectroscopy.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that when a planet passes in front of a star, it creates a shadow, resulting in lower light intensity, but most light is still received due to the planet's smaller size.
  • Another participant notes that if the planet has an atmosphere, it transmits most wavelengths while absorbing some, which could affect the perceived size of the planet in certain wavelengths.
  • There is a repeated inquiry about whether the wavelengths of light from the planet are hidden or interrupted by the glare of the star.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the impact of star glare on the wavelengths transmitted or reflected by the planet. The discussion does not reach a consensus on this issue.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the definitions of terms like "glare" and "wavelengths" may not be fully clarified, and the discussion does not resolve the potential effects of atmospheric composition on light transmission.

akashpandey
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When a planet passes through any star, it absorb and transmit certain amount of light by which we can determine planet composition.
My question is that did stars glare hide or inturupt the wavelength transmitted of reflected by planet?
 
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akashpandey said:
My question is that did stars glare hide or inturupt the wavelength transmitted of reflected by planet?
I'm not sure if I understand that question correctly.

The dominant effect is as simple as a shadow: if the planet is between us and the star, it makes a shadow, so we get a lower light intensity (we still get most light because the planet is smaller than the star, so it doesn't block all light).
If the planet has an atmosphere, this atmosphere will transmit most wavelengths, but absorb some of them. For those wavelengths, the planet appears to be larger (because the atmosphere is not transparent). The difference between the reduction in light for different wavelengths allows to measure the composition of the atmosphere.
 
akashpandey said:
When a planet passes through any sta

Do you mean "through" or "in front of"?
 
In front of.
 
I am repeating again my question.
When a planet passes in front of any star; plant absorb and transmit certain amount of light and by Spectroscopy we can find planet compositions.
So those wavelenghts of planet were hide or inturupted by stars glare?
 

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