Here's why:
* Gravity's Influence: Planets are held in their orbits by the gravitational pull of their star. While planets can have slight gravitational interactions with each other, these are usually too small to cause a major shift in orbit.
* Discovery Methods: Planets are discovered through various methods, primarily:
* Transit Method: Observing the dimming of a star's light as a planet passes in front of it.
* Radial Velocity Method: Detecting the wobble in a star's motion caused by the gravitational pull of an orbiting planet.
* Direct Imaging: Taking a picture of a planet directly, which is very challenging due to the immense brightness of stars.
The exception: There are rare instances where two planets could have a strong gravitational interaction, leading to changes in their orbits. However, this wouldn't be the primary method of discovering a planet.
Let me know if you have any other space-related questions!
