Exoplanets

Why are astronomers looking for planets around other stars? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby discuss exoplanets, and why they're so fascinating to the scientific community. You'll learn about why it's so difficult to observe them directly, and find out about the different methods for discovering new exoplanets indirectly. Tim will go over the concepts behind gravitational methods, including astrometry and the Doppler method, as well as a way to measure tiny changes in a star's light intensity. Plus, you'll find out about an exciting new way to observe exoplanets directly, by measuring their infrared radiation. So pull up a chair and see where the real ET lives!

Watch the Science movie about Exoplanets »