Statistical confirmation of long-period, low SNR candidates should be taken with a grain of salt. The reliability is too low to confirm individual systems without followup observations and the 99% confidence validation of Kepler-452b is likely closer to 90%.
The new high-resolution, hydra-headed PEPSI spectrograph is now in operation. One of the first targets it investigated is an ancient, planet-hosting star.
Tabetha Boyajian calls it “the most mysterious star in the universe.” Has she figured it out?
Professor Lars Bildsten understand the values of change — stellar change, that is. Read more about his research and career before his keynote at #AAS231!
The light from a star is not constant, it varies as the layers of hot material move back and forth, clump and disperse. Most of these vibrations are visible, detectable, and well understood. But some bizarre new vibration is happening in stars, for which we have no clear path to an explanation.
Planets that do not transit are very difficult for Kepler to find. The authors of today’s paper are not intimidated by that and find 60 non-transiting Hot Jupiters unknowingly detected by Kepler anyway.