Data gathered when the dwarf planet Makemake passed in front of a distant star last year are shedding new light on the icy orb's size, shape, and atmosphere — or, more precisely, its lack of one. (sciencemag.org)
Fortunately, they sometimes happen to slide in front of a distant star as they slowly orbit the sun. (sciencemag.org)
The space telescope infers their existence by the amount of starlight blocked when the orbiting planet passes in front of a distant star from the vantage point of the observer. (sciencedaily.com)