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By the wobble and dimming of the star. Scientists are pretty smart dudes.

Astronomers can detect the star moving (wobbling) ever so slightly from the planets' gravitational pull. Very subtle but the astronomers have the instruments that can measure this. Also, they can measure the dimming of the starlight when the planet(s) pass in front of the star (but what if the planet orbits the star in a plane that doesn't intersect the telescope's view?)
What I think they will find much harder to do is find the characteristics of the planets' atmosphere or water content.

(In response to this post by OXVT)

Posted: 02/23/2017 at 09:19AM

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Science man .... science ... how in the heck can we see 7 planets ... -- OXVT 02/22/2017 3:35PM

By the wobble and dimming of the star. Scientists are pretty smart dudes. -- YBYSAIAHokie 02/23/2017 09:19AM

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