If an orbital system is highly inclined (tilted, with $i$ close to $0^ ext{o}$), what value does the radial velocity calculation yield for the planet's mass?
Answer
The minimum mass ($M ext{ sin } i$).
When the inclination is small, the measured radial velocity is only a fraction of the star's true orbital speed, resulting in a calculated mass that is lower than the true mass.
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Detecting Exoplanets: Radial Velocity Method - YouTube
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