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2. Simulated what the detector would have reported for each. I think this would be really hard. For example, you need to simulate how the detector responds to
by majia 8y ago
2. Simulated what the detector would have reported for each.
I think this would be really hard. For example, you need to simulate how the detector responds to different planet compositions, different signal to noise ratios at different distances from the star. A sphere in vacuum model may be a gross simplification.
- Sharlin 8y agoWell, we already deduce exoplanets' masses, orbits, diameters, and so on from the sensor data that basically amounts to a tiny change in the light curve of the star. The astronomers are probably pretty well aware of the limitations of their models and potential confounders.
- gmjoe 8y agoHow would the composition of a planet affect how much light it blocked of its star when passing in front? And signal to noise ratios are presumably quite easy to simulate. So not really sure what's so hard about it.
- captaincrowbar 8y agoComposition determines density. A rocky planet would block less light than a gas giant planet of the same mass, because it would be denser and therefore smaller.
- gmjoe 8y agoBut does density have to do with anything Kepler measures? Since it only measures how much light decreases, I assumed it's only measuring planet size, and that we're totally ignorant about planet mass and density?