New method unlocks secrets of planets that do not cross in front of their stars

Star system: Alpha Centauri | Distance from the Sun: 4.4 light years

Scientists have developed a new technique called the Variable Planetary Infrared Excess (VPIE) method to study exoplanets that never transit (pass in front of) their host stars. By analyzing how the total light from a star system changes as a planet orbits and shows different phases—much like the Moon's phases—this method can isolate the planet's heat signature without needing a complex model of the star itself. 

Tests using simulated James Webb Space Telescope data for planets like Proxima Centauri b show that VPIE can determine a planet's size and how well its atmosphere redistributes heat from the day side to the night side. This breakthrough opens the door to characterizing nearby worlds, including potentially habitable ones, that were previously hidden from our view.

Scientific study

A New Strategy for Using Spectroscopic Phase Curves to Characterize Non-Transiting Planets (external link)