<p>This isn't an easy question to answer as there are many aspects to consider.  The brighter the star, the smaller the relative photon noise is at the telescope, so it is more difficult to detect transits from distant stars.  That being said, the main factor is the planet radius, as we look at flux differences from out and in transits.  Thus, we can usually constrain the transit depth with an uncertainty much smaller than the actual flux uncertainty, which help us detect transit for dim stars.</p>
<p>We could probably detect transits for every observable stars in our galaxy that harbour transitting exoplanets if their planets are big enough.</p>
<p>We can also theoretically  do as much transit observation necessary to obtain a high enough signal to noise to confidently detect a transit.</p>
<p>For spectroscopic analysis though, there are many more factors to consider.  If the planet is covered by high altitudes clouds, then we will most likely never be able to constrain its atmosphere composition.  If the atmosphere is too dense, than the transit spectrum becomes flat, as most of the absorption is collision-induced, which doesn't give information on the atmosphere content, except the mean molecular weight.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-22T20:31:47.963Z
2021-09-22T20:31:47.963Z
Shamaz
<p>Is there a limit for how far away you could make a spectroscopic analysis of a planet when it transits its star, to detect bio markers and industry markers?</p>
<p>What would the limit be with current technology, and is there a hard limit for what might be possible with (forseeable) future technology?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-21T22:38:04.877Z
What do you mean by how far? Do you mean the distance from us to the star?
Shamaz
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-22T19:29:09.910Z
Yes. What other distance could it be?
Yora
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-22T20:13:02.110Z
Exoplanet to host star, surface to absorption zone in the atmosphere, ect.  I don't know it wasn't clear.
Shamaz
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-24T01:05:21.127Z
@Shamaz check the first two words of the title
uhoh
<exoplanet><planetary-atmosphere><planetary-transits>
Maximum distance at which planetary atmospheres can be analyzed during transits?
Yora
# Maximum distance at which planetary atmospheres can be analyzed during transits?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-09-21)

Is there a limit for how far away you could make a spectroscopic analysis of a planet when it transits its star, to detect bio markers and industry markers?

What would the limit be with current technology, and is there a hard limit for what might be possible with (forseeable) future technology?

**Tags:** exoplanet, planetary-atmosphere, planetary-transits

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you mean by how far? Do you mean the distance from us to the star?  
> **username_0**: Yes. What other distance could it be?  
> **username_1**: Exoplanet to host star, surface to absorption zone in the atmosphere, ect.  I don't know it wasn't clear.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 check the first two words of the title  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-09-22. Score: 1

This isn't an easy question to answer as there are many aspects to consider. The brighter the star, the smaller the relative photon noise is at the telescope, so it is more difficult to detect transits from distant stars. That being said, the main factor is the planet radius, as we look at flux differences from out and in transits. Thus, we can usually constrain the transit depth with an uncertainty much smaller than the actual flux uncertainty, which help us detect transit for dim stars.

We could probably detect transits for every observable stars in our galaxy that harbour transitting exoplanets if their planets are big enough.

We can also theoretically do as much transit observation necessary to obtain a high enough signal to noise to confidently detect a transit.

For spectroscopic analysis though, there are many more factors to consider. If the planet is covered by high altitudes clouds, then we will most likely never be able to constrain its atmosphere composition. If the atmosphere is too dense, than the transit spectrum becomes flat, as most of the absorption is collision-induced, which doesn't give information on the atmosphere content, except the mean molecular weight.


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