What technical hurdle, related to the star itself, can mimic or mask the subtle planetary signal in RV measurements?
Answer
Stellar noise, such as starspots
Stellar magnetic activity, evidenced by starspots rotating in and out of view, changes the observed spectrum and can create apparent velocity changes comparable in magnitude to those caused by smaller planets.
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Observatory Online: Exoplanets and the Radial Velocity Method
Related Questions
What is the radial velocity method often referred to as in exoplanet detection?In the radial velocity method, what is the term for the slight orbital motion of the star caused by an orbiting planet?When a star moves toward Earth, the compression of its light waves causes a shift toward the shorter end of the spectrum known as what?What physical principle is essential for making the detection of radial velocity shifts possible?What are the specific dark lines found in a star's spectrum that shift in unison due to stellar motion?What is the common name for the point around which both the star and the planet orbit?When plotting the measured radial velocity against time for a single orbiting planet, what characteristic curve is typically formed?Due to geometric limitations, what measured quantity does the radial velocity method provide for an exoplanet's mass?For a Sun-like star, how fast does a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting at Earth's distance cause the star to wobble?What technical hurdle, related to the star itself, can mimic or mask the subtle planetary signal in RV measurements?