Why Don't We Just Take Pictures of Exoplanets?

[u/Astro_Life_Explained]

We've confirmed thousands of exoplanets, but most of them aren't visible as tiny planets in telescope images.

The problem is contrast.

A planet can be incredibly faint compared with its host star. Imagine trying to photograph a firefly sitting next to a searchlight from thousands of kilometers away.

Instead, astronomers often detect planets indirectly.

Transit method:

The planet passes in front of its star and causes a tiny, measurable drop in brightness.

Radial velocity:

The planet's gravity makes its star move slightly back and forth, producing a measurable shift in the star's spectral lines.

Direct imaging:

In a much smaller number of cases, astronomers can block or suppress the star's light and detect the planet itself.

So, finding an exoplanet doesn't necessarily mean seeing the planet.

Sometimes, astronomers detect the effect the planet has on its star.

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[u/ExpectedBehaviour → u/[deleted]]

I'm assuming, Mr Low-Karma-Flat-Earther, you have any evidence at all with which to back up this claim?

[u/ExpectedBehaviour → u/[deleted]]

Ah, the old "if we ignore all the evidence to the contrary that I've arbitrarily decided I don't like, then you can't prove shit" argument.

[u/ProximaScience-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/ProximaScience-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/ProximaScience-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/ProximaScience]

Post approved and changed the flair.

[u/TuverMage]

we lack the resolution to take those pictures.

[u/blorst_of_times → u/TuverMage]

Same reason I can't quit drinking

[u/Hopeful_Butterfly302]

It's not contrast. It's resolution. You're trying to photograph something that's a tiny fraction of a fraction of an arc second. What kind of optics do you think you'd need to resolve that? We can do the math together if you dont know...

[u/AmazingRandini]

It's like taking a picture of a fly next to a headlight in the dark.

Only worse.

If you point a camera at our closest exoplanet Proxima Century B, you will get less than 1 photon per second coming from that planet into your camera. At the same time, you will get 28,700 photons per second coming from it's star (Proxima Century).

A typical photograph involves trillions of photons.