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Finding Other Worlds

The Science Teacher -- February 2005

Since 1995, astronomers have discovered over 100 known exoplanets--planets outside of our solar system--and determined their properties such as mass, orbital distance, size, and density. By using simple algebraic equations of physics, students can determine these properties as well. The activity described in this article is based on a new transit method of planet hunting that allows students to make hypotheses about the composition of extrasolar planets.
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