Analysis Of the Exoplanet Searching Based on Transit and Radial Velocity Method

Abstract

Exoplanet searching is one of the most important themes in astrophysics and astronomy. There have been countless missions aiming to find planets out of the solar system, and further on to find extraterrestrial life. This study is an analysis on the different exoplanet detection methods, by their usage on detecting certain major properties of exoplanets. The two most used methods, namely transit method and radial velocity (RV) method, would be evaluated using frequency of usage with exoplanet.eu as the data source. According to the analysis, transit method exceeds in determining planetary radius, temperature, and geometric albedo, while RV method is not useful to determine these properties. RV method is very useful in determining planetary mass and orbital eccentricity, yet transit method is not as useful for these properties. The two methods are both moderate in detecting orbital period and semi-major axis (RV method is slightly more useful in determining semi-major axis). Both methods are not so useful at determining inclination out of the near-90 degree range. Geometric albedo is rarely confirmed, so whether which method, limited detection was made. These results provided some insight into which detection method to utilize/search for when trying to find specific data about certain properties. It might be useful as a guide to fellow students and amateur astronomers on exoplanet detection methods.