Some exoplanets are only optical illusions

2002/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronomia

The exoplanets, outside the Solar System, are planets that revolve around other stars. They cannot be seen live and instead the physicists analyze the light of the stars: if abnormal vibrations are observed in the light, it is due to the attraction force of the exoplanet.

But in reviewing some already identified exoplanets, physicists at the University of Tennessee have found that one of them, the HD 192263, does not exist. Apparently, the vibrations are a consequence of an optical effect on the surface of the star.

Scientists have recognized that the methodology used in some cases is not adequate and that at least 5% of the exoplanets found may be optical illusions.