Jason Wang created videos visualizing the orbits of large exoplanets using images captured over many years. Because the planets move slowly and follow Kepler’s laws, images from different dates are filled in using the “motion interpolation” technique.
- One video uses 30 images spanning 17 years.
- Another video features 10 images captured over 12 years at Keck Observatory.
These efforts also contributed to scientific papers.
Why it matters
The significance of the work lies in transforming individual telescope images obtained at long intervals into a visual narrative that makes it easier to track the orbital dynamics of planets. While this approach shows how limited observation points in exoplanet research can be interpreted, it also improves accessibility for scientists interested in the subject and readers following complex astronomical data. The fact that the visuals contribute to scientific papers demonstrates that the work is not intended solely for educational or presentation purposes, but is also connected to research processes. At the same time, the technical completion of the missing motion between the images leaves open the question of which parts of the orbit being tracked are based on direct observation and which are based on calculation.