What does the transit method allow astronomers to estimate regarding an exoplanet's physical characteristics?
Answer
Planet’s diameter (size) and orbital period.
The transit method is instrumental in determining the physical dimensions of a transiting exoplanet. When the planet passes in front of its star, the resulting fractional dimming of the star's light is directly proportional to the ratio of the planet's area compared to the star's area. If the star's radius is known, this measurement allows for the calculation of the planet’s diameter, or size. Furthermore, the time interval between consecutive dips in brightness—the periodicity of the transits—accurately establishes the length of the planet's year, or its orbital period, making this method the workhorse for missions focused on cataloging planet sizes.
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