Detection method
Transit Method
Detecting the tiny dip in a star's brightness as a planet passes in front of it.
Exoplanets
How it works
When a planet crosses the face of its star from our viewpoint, it blocks a small fraction of the light. The depth gives the planet's size and the timing gives its orbit.
Strengths and limitations
Only works for systems aligned edge-on to us, and favours large, close-in planets.
Example exoplanets
| Planet | Class | Host | Radius (R⊕) | Period (d) | Distance (ly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU Mic bTransit · 2020 | Mini-Neptune | AU Mic | 4.79 | 8.4634 | 32 |
| AU Mic cTransit · 2021 | Mini-Neptune | AU Mic | 2.79 | 18.859 | 32 |
| GJ 1132 bTransit · 2015 | Terrestrial planet | GJ 1132 | 1.19 | 1.6289 | 41 |
| GJ 1214 bTransit · 2009 | Mini-Neptune | GJ 1214 | 2.73 | 1.5804 | 48 |
| GJ 341 bTransit · 2025 | Terrestrial planet | GJ 341 | 0.88 | 7.5769 | 34 |
| GJ 357 bTransit · 2019 | Terrestrial planet | GJ 357 | 1.2 | 3.9306 | 31 |
| GJ 367 bTransit · 2021 | Terrestrial planet | GJ 367 | 0.7 | 0.3219 | 31 |
| GJ 806 bTransit · 2023 | Terrestrial planet | GJ 806 | 1.33 | 0.9263 | 39 |
| GJ 9827 bTransit · 2017 | Terrestrial planet | GJ 9827 | 1.44 | 1.209 | 97 |
| GJ 9827 cTransit · 2017 | Terrestrial planet | GJ 9827 | 1.13 | 3.6481 | 97 |
| GJ 9827 dTransit · 2017 | Super-Earth | GJ 9827 | 1.98 | 6.2018 | 97 |
| Gliese 12 bTransit · 2024 | Terrestrial planet | Gliese 12 | 0.93 | 12.7614 | 40 |