Astronomers Confirm Proxima Centauri b is Not A Transit Exoplanet | Exoplanet Radio ep 31

Astronomers have recently concluded an observation study of the closest exoplanet to Earth, Proxima Centauri b and found that the planet does not transit its star. These observations settle a question that astronomers have been asking since the exoplanet's discovery in 2016 using the radial velocity method.
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[@pat999x]

As always, very interesting story. Thank you

[@geemanbmw]

What's frustrating to me is the two sun like stars alpha A & B are right there next door to proxima centauri and we still can't resolve if either has planets orbiting them... cmon already what jwst can't help? These are G type G2V and K0V type stars. And their both a billion years older than Sol

[@JS-rh8qj]

How can this planet be in the "habitable" zone and circle its star every 11 days??

[@theresnotom]

BC it's host star is a lot smaller than our sun

[@moodhawk807]

For the first time “from 2016”. This planet does not transit the star and this star also has around 60 solar flare ups a day…which means…Proxima b probably has little to no atmosphere.

[@joerandella2526]

Can we not assume the age to be the same as the star it orbits? Or is there a chance it has a different age for some reason or another?

[@maverick627uk]

The star is always older by a significant amount. The planets are made of whats left of the star formation. Just a heads up.

[@anglosaxon5874]

So does that mean that it orbits around Proxima Centauri B like a 2d drawing so we can never see it transition?

[@Si-Toecutter]

Perfect way of explaining it

[@Nuttycane]

@@Si-Toecutter maybe a dumb question but how did we find Proxima B if it doesn't pass between us and Proxima Centauri?

[@Nuttycane]

nevermind (Radio Velocity Method)

[@geemanbmw]

​@@Nuttycanenice catch 👍🏼

[@geemanbmw]

So they knew it had a 11 day orbit by using the raduo velocity method so why the big announcement that it doesn't transit ? Did they think it would tilt in our line of view at some point. All you have to do is if a exoplanet is in your line is sight you wait till it passes and it's been since 2016 you'd think they would of known this by now...

[@cazz8017]

Tony wants to meet the AVATARS

[@Si-Toecutter]

An Illustration of what its orbit does look like would help

[@galaxia4709]

Actually I'm also curious how the disk is oriented towards us. Maybe astronomers don't know? As it's only confirmed now that it's definitively not in a transit orientation towards us. You can get an idea by imagining as if you were looking at the planetary system from above, that's an example of being non-transient. But how precisely it is inclined or if at all they probably don't know I guess.

[@deepastronomy]

There might be a way to glean the orbital inclination from radial velocity wobbles but I couldn't find anything about that.

[@galaxia4709]

@@deepastronomy Yes!

[@JenniferA886]

👍👍👍