[aimhigh]

the TRAPPIST-1 system, making measurements of the star's minuscule changes in brightness due to transiting planets.

I'm really skeptical of this process. For it to work, the star has to have constant light (no fluctuations). Then, the alignment of the planets has to be aligned on exactly the same plane as the earth so that we can measure the shadow.

[gdani]

I'm really skeptical of this process. For it to work, the star has to have constant light (no fluctuations). Then, the alignment of the planets has to be aligned on exactly the same plane as the earth so that we can measure the shadow.

I read NASA's Q&A on this yesterday. If I remember correctly, current technology only gets them so far in identifying planets. A new telescope that overcomes the issue you identify will allow them to, in a couple years, analyze with greater detail and perhaps even identify other planets orbiting around the same star.

[sparklite2]

Yes, they need to be mostly on a plane facing us ... but there are so many, many stars, statistically, many of them have to be ‘facing’ us.