Planets and Exoplanets

                                                      Abstract

This archival study was produced from a set of two data sets downloaded from NASA. An analysis of the data sets was performed to get an approximate idea of how many planets and exoplanets have been discovered over the years and which detection methods were used more frequently. The relationship between planet detection method and the observatories using a regression analysis. The data set containing information solely on exoplanets was then analyzed to gain an idea of the progression of planet discovery over time as well as approximately how many exoplanets were discovered with each detection method and the use of detection methods over the years. Furthermore, a regression analysis was performed to see if there was a relationship between the detection type of exoplanets and when they were discovered.

                                                  Introduction

Mankind has dreamed of space and looked up at the night sky wondering what is out there since ancient times. More recently in the last hundred years we have made significant advances in our knowledge of space and the charting of a vast amount of planets, exoplanets, asteroids and moons. We are lucky enough to now live in an era that puts us closer to answering our age old questions than ever before. We have NASA, SpaceX, China and Russia competing and all making significant discoveries. More recently we have discovered bacterial life on Mars, grown plants on the moon and have discovered our first Black hole. The aim of this analysis is to get an idea of what types of detection methods that space observers use to detect both planets and exoplanets as well as their use and our discoveries over the years. It is predicted a dominate detection method will be used and that our discoveries are more recent in the last 50 years.

                                              Methods and Materials

The first data set was cleaned and structured into a frame where a count of each detection method was performed. Moreover, a regression was performed to explore the relationship between the detection methods and the observatories. With limited data for this planet data set I moved on to the data set consisting of exoplanets which included discovery years. A count of the exoplanets each year was performed and represented to show how many exoplanets were discovered over a span of years. Furthermore, a count of how many planets were discovered for each detection method was performed. The detection methods over the years was then looked at. Lastly, a regression was performed to explore the relationship the detection types and the years the exoplanets were discovered.

                                                   Results

Figure 1.1 indicates that the dominate method used for detecting planets was the Transit method. Secondly at a lot lower use is the Radial Velocity method.

Figure 1.2 indicates that there are outliers in the data. However, it appears that there is a correlation between the detection method and the observatories.

Figure 2.1 shows a aproximate idea of the amount of planets and our trend over discovery over the past few decades.

Figure 2.2 shows an approximation of the amount of exoplanets discovered with each of the detection methods. This graph indicates that the Primary Transit method was the most used and has discovered the most exoplanets. Second to the Primary Transit method which has discovered over 6 million exoplanets is the Radial Velocity method.

Figure 2.3 indicates that the Timing method has been in use the longest of these listed methods and withing the last 5 years the TTV and Microlensing and Astrometry were the dominate methods.

Figure 2.4 indicates that there are many outliers in the data and show a positive correlation between the detection method and the years that the exoplanets were discovered.

                                                 Discussion

The majority of the planets and the exoplanets that we have discovered have happened only in the last 50 years. There have been multiple methods to detect planets and more recently in the past 5 years have transisted to fewer better methods such as TTV, Microlensing and Astrometry fading out the longest used method of Timing. Although these methods dominate the majority of both planets and exoplanets have been discovered using the Primary Transit method. A relationship between the planets and observatories were discovered along with exoplanets relation ship with the detection method and exoplanets discovere. Both regressions exploring these relationships have shown to overall be a positive correlation. Further analysis can be done by joining both data sets and redoing these analysis with a larger data set. The amount of exoplanets discovered compared to the amount of planets discovered could also be explored.