Exam-style question
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What type of light curve would indicate a potential exoplanet transit?.
- A.A steady increase in brightness over time
- B.A sudden drop in brightness followed by a return to normal
- C.A gradual decrease in brightness over time
- D.A constant brightness with occasional spikes
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- A sudden drop in brightness followed by a return to normal
Explanation
Why this works
A light curve showing a sudden drop in brightness indicates that an object, such as an exoplanet, has passed in front of the star, blocking some of its light. This is characteristic of the transit method.
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