" One of the oldest ways of measuring the mass of an object is to compare it with another for which the mass is well known, using a weighing scale, for example. In my research project, I'm using such a mechanism to determine the mass of planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets. To do this, I compare them with the stars around which they orbit, whose characteristics are well known.

Consider a balance with a star and a planet on each pan. The latter will be completely tilted towards the star, which is much more massive. However, a planet of greater mass will be able to tilt the scales more. Its influence on the star will be amplified, in other words, it will draw the star towards itself with greater force.

In my project, you'll explore this effect that planets have on their star. Using data collected by the SPIRou instrument on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, you'll use computer programming to measure the mass of a known exoplanet. In doing so, you'll also examine the possibility that it may be accompanied by other, as yet unknown planets! "