亮星之所以亮是因为它们的光度较高且/或离地球距离较近。实际上，整个天空亮过视星等+11的恒星几乎都记录在案了，对更暗天体的探索也在持续之中。
一些观测中的恒星亮度变化较大，这对于计算机来说难以把握，但是对于人眼却不成问题。
Some stars being watched have very variable brightness. That is confusing for computers, but for human eyes is less of a problem.
科学家也将更好地利用特别制造的自动望远镜，寻找由于行星经过造成的恒星亮度的极小变化。
Scientists are also increasing their use of automated telescopes that are programmed to look for minuscule variations in a star's brightness caused by an orbiting planet passing in front of it.
或者，他们寻找恒星亮度中微小减弱的地方——证明一个行星正在横越或经过从我们的角度所看到的那个恒星。
Or they look for tiny dips in a star's brightness - evidence that a planet is transiting, or passing in front of, the star from our perspective.
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