How Did Astronomers Determine That the Planet Orbiting the Star

question 17

Multiple Choice

How did astronomers determine that the planet orbiting the star HD 209458 is a gas giant like Jupiter and not made mostly of rocks or metals?

• A) they looked for light from the planet reflected into the spectrum of the star
• B) they measured the mass of the planet, which immediately told them whether it was gas or rock
• C) they watched the planet eclipse (cover) the light of the star, and thus were able to get the planet's size
• D) they knew that any planet as close to its star as this one was could not be made of rock or metal
• E) it took more than one of the above measurements to figure out this problem
• Section 21.5: Exoplanets Everywhere - What We Are Learning

---

Definitions:

Radical Republicans

A faction within the Republican Party in the United States during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras, advocating for the abolition of slavery, citizenship, and voting rights for African Americans.

Wartime Devastation

The extensive damage and destruction caused to infrastructure, population, and the environment during and after armed conflicts.

White Yeomanry

Refers to the class of small, independent white farmers in the Southern United States, who worked their own land, often without slave labor.

Freedom

The license or freedom allowing individuals to act, speak, or reason according to their wishes, unrestrained by external limits.