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SlideshowReport

Microlensing Reveals an Extrasolar Planet

Description
Gravitational fields cause light to change direction. As a star with a
planet passes between Earth and a more distant star (b), the light
from the distant star is focused toward us, making the distant star
appear brighter. The focusing of the distant star’s light occurs twice,
once by the closer star and once by its planet (c), making the distant
star change brightness. For these simulations, the closer star and
planet are 17,000 ly away, while the distant star is 24,000 ly away
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