What advantage do M-dwarf stars offer for detecting transiting Earth-like planets?
Answer
Their habitable zones are much closer to the star, making transiting planets easier to detect.
M-dwarf stars, being much cooler and dimmer than the Sun, possess a habitable zone situated significantly closer to the stellar body. When searching for exoplanets using the transit method—observing the dip in starlight as a planet crosses the star's face—a closer orbit means the planet completes its orbital period much faster and transits more frequently. This higher frequency of observable events increases the statistical likelihood of detection for smaller, Earth-sized worlds passing in front of their host star, even though these stars present secondary challenges like intense flaring activity.
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