New Planet Discovered With Einstein's Theory of Relativity

As the search for Earth-like planets continues, scientists from Tel Aviv University and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (Cfa) have taken another step forward by discovering exoplanet Kepler-76b with a new method utilizing Einstein's theory of relativity.

"This is the first time that this aspect of Einstein's theory of relativity has been used to discover a planet," co-author Tsevi Mazeh from Tel Aviv University said.

Typically, astronomers use one of two methods to identify an exoplanet: radial velocity, which looks for the potential wobbling of a star caused by an orbiting planet, or transits caused by the star dimming as the planet passes in front of it. The new method, dubbed "BEER" (short for BEaming, Ellipsoidal, and Reflection/emission modulations) instead relies on Einstein's theory of relativity and its implications on how light and gravity behaves.

Einstein's "beaming" effect states that as star is pulled slightly toward us by a planet, its light photons pile up. By using data collected by NASA's Kepler spacecraft, the researchers were able to gather the precise measurements needed to measure the photon levels as well as any gravitational discrepancies that point out a planet.

"We are looking for very subtle effects. We needed high quality measurements of stellar brightnesses, accurate to a few parts per million," said team member David Latham from the CfA.

"This was only possible because of the exquisite data NASA is collecting with the Kepler spacecraft," added lead author Simchon Faigler of Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Kepler has been used to located expolanets in the past, but this is the first time in conjunction with Einstein's theory of relativity.

Kepler-76b is by no means habitable - the "hot Jupiter" orbits its star ever 1.5 days and weighs twice as much as our solar system's largest planet. Still, it's the process that has the scientists excited, as it offers planet seekers one more tool in their arsenal.

"Each planet-hunting technique has its strengths and weaknesses. And each novel technique we add to the arsenal allows us to probe planets in new regimes," said CfA's Avi Loeb.

You can read the full published study in the Astrophysical Journal.