What is a light curve?

A light curve is defined as a graph that depicts the variation in light intensity of a celestial object over time. This graphical representation is crucial for astronomers because it allows them to observe and analyze different aspects of the object being studied.

For instance, changes in the light intensity can indicate the presence of exoplanets transiting in front of a star, revealing their sizes and orbit periods. Additionally, light curves are essential in studying variable stars, supernovae, or monitoring periodic phenomena such as the rotation of celestial bodies. By analyzing a light curve, astronomers can infer a wealth of information about the physical characteristics and dynamic processes of these astronomical objects.

The other choices describe different concepts that do not capture the essence of a light curve: one refers to distance measurements, which are not related to light intensity changes; another involves diagrams of eclipses, focused on celestial events rather than luminosity; and the last describes orbital paths, which are unrelated to the temporal variations in light emitted or reflected by stars or other celestial bodies.