How Distance Effects the Double Dip Transit Photometry Method’s Ability to Detect Exoplanets

Overview

In our quest of whether there is life outside of our solar system, the focus has been on finding planets known as Super-Earths with Earth-like qualities suitable for life, but large enough for us to see. The purpose of this study is to see how distance affects the double-dip transit photometry method of detecting exoplanets. The procedure is to set up a star-planet system in a large four-foot black box with a color-changing and intensity-changing LED bulb to simulate the star. A Hot Jupiter (foam ball) is suspended from a rotating motor, orbiting close to the star, and a suspended Super-Earth (a bead) orbiting further from the star at three different distances. Data was captured with a BH1750 light meter sensor connected to an Arduino Uno. Luminosity data was measured for each light color (red, yellow, orange, blue, and white) at high intensity with the motor running for the orbiting Hot Jupiter and pulley systems for the Super-Earth. My hypothesis was proven correct that the distance of the Super-Earth from the Star and Hot Jupiter does affect the double-dip transit photometry methods’ ability to detect exoplanets. The color of the star also affects the ability to detect exoplanets. It was easiest to detect the Super-Earth when the star was red, and the Super Earth was at its closest distance.