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Natural Sciences · Intermediate
Exoplanets
Thousands of planets have been found orbiting other stars, yet almost none have ever been seen directly. Learn how astronomers detect them from tiny dips in starlight and tiny wobbles of their stars, work out their densities, find planets with gravitational lenses, work out which could hold liquid water, and estimate how many civilisations might share our galaxy.
7 lessons~35 min0/7 complete
Start courseHelpful background: Astronomy & Cosmology
1
Finding Planets
Dips and wobbles.
2
Is Anyone Out There?
Habitable zones and the Drake equation.
3
What Are They Made Of?
Densities, and a lens made of gravity.