My inspiration for this projects topic stems from an infinite curiosity about life itself and a desire to understand the unknown. My fascination with Earth and Space Science began in elementary school and has steadily grown stronger ever sense. From books and movies to videogames and NASA documentaries, this passion and curiosity have been shaped by a diverse range of influences. This project presents a valuable opportunity for me to delve deeper into astrometry data, align with my aspirations, and make significant strides towards my goal of meaningfully contributing to space exploration.
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Which method has been most successful in detecting exoplanets?
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How do the distances of stars detected by different detection methods compare?
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How does the exoplanet mass distribution vary between the different detection methods?
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What factors might explain the apparent scarcity of exoplanets with extremely short orbital periods?
Preparing the Catalogue of Exoplanets data for analysis has involved a significant amount of cleaning and preprocessing. This included removing unnecessary columns, renaming the remaining columns to make the data easy to read and quickly reference, handling missing values, converting data to consistent units, creating new columns, addressing outliers, and filtering both the detection method and year columns for the focal points of the analysis.
Navigating the vast exoplanet dataset has presented various challenges. Visualizing complex relationships between variables and selecting appropriate statistical tests has required careful consideration. Additionally, a strong understanding of astronomical concepts has been essential to interpret results accurately. Overcoming these hurdles has been a rewarding process, allowing me to gain valuable insights into exoplanet detection methods.
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Python/Pandas
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SQL
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Git
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Power Point
This analysis has explored the diverse landscape of exoplanet detection methods, highlighting their unique strengths and limitations. Revealing a clear dominance of the transit method, particularly for planets orbiting close to their host stars. I observed a distinct relationship between detection method and distance reach. Notably, the distribution of exoplanet masses and distances is significantly influenced by the inherent biases of each detection technique. The scarcity of exoplanets with extremely short orbital periods remains a compelling mystery that demands further investigation. As our understanding of exoplanets continues to deepen, we anticipate groundbreaking discoveries that will revolutionize our perception of planetary systems and the potential for life beyond Earth.