In exoplanet detection via radial velocity, what actual motion is detected by astronomers?
Answer
The star's slight wobble due to the planet's gravitational tug.
The method detects the minuscule back-and-forth motion (the wobble) experienced by the host star as it orbits the common center of mass shared with its orbiting planet.
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Detecting Exoplanets: Radial Velocity Method - YouTube
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