Re: Number of low eccentricity distant planets

Crown-Horned Snorkack wrote:

> Except that you do not see the velocity - it is fundamentally
> impossible to distinguish from overall peculiar motion of the star
> itself.
> 
> You can only see the acceleration.

No, what is seen is the _change_ in velocity of the star due to the 
orbiting planet.  Change in velocity isn't acceleration; acceleration is 
the time rate of change on velocity.

The star has some peculiar radial velocity.  You look for changes in 
that radial velocity for evidence of planets.  The changes center around 
the peculiar velocity itself, so you can factor that out.

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