Astrostatistics is a reemerging field of interest in the larger field of astronomy. While statistics always had a role in the aerospace industry, astrophysics, and astronomy, the three fields have come together once more with the advent of more intensive ways to search for planets outside of our solar system. To find out information about planets that are outside the limits for direct observation, we rely on probability and modeling to get a sense of how these planets look and behave. In addition to learning the qualities of the planet, probability models and statistics also decide if the exoplanets candidates are likely actual planets.
What interests me is the development of these probability models. Getting deeper into how scientists develop these statistical methodologies, will enlighten me to the kinds of considerations that are the most important in identifying probable exoplanets. I also would like to explore the dynamics that arise with certainty and probability and the lack of direct observation and how that effects the confidence that scientists have in their findings. Seeing that exoplanetary research is a rising field of interest, I hope to learn more about how astronomers and statisticians develop models for future exoplanet hunting technologies. For the more mathematical portions, I plan to make use of NASA’s online research database for some sources. As well as looking at textbooks for exoplanet research, in order to get a more comprehensive/multidisciplinary view of the field.
