The team used novel analysis techniques in squeezing
the planetary signals out of the data.
Other astronomers say the method of pulling faint
planetary signals out of background noise needs to be verified.
Not exact matches
Tuomi's team ran statistical analyses to tease
out possible
planetary signals from background noise.
In the case of Kepler 452 b, the team performed extensive simulations as well as ground - based observations of the star and its immediate surroundings to rule
out the possibility of anything spoofing the
planetary signal.
To pick
out those
signals associated with actual planets, physics graduate student Roberto Sanchis - Ojeda searched through the set of periodic light curves, looking for frequent smaller dips in the data midway between the
planetary transits.
Transit
signals detected in 2013 observations indicate that
planetary candidate c could be an Earth - sized planet with a year lasting no more than 20.4 days, putting it slightly further
out than Bb but still scorchingly close to the star (Demory et al, 2015; and Jacob Aron, New Scientist, March 27, 2015).
Using BLENDER together with constraints from other follow - up observations we are able to rule
out all blends for the two deeper
signals, and provide independent validation of their
planetary nature.
Rajpaul was able to simulate a star with no planets, generating synthetic data
out of which the exact same 3.24 - day
planetary signal emerged.