The majority of extrasolar planets known were found using the radial velocity method, which involves measuring the stellar wobbles caused by planets gravitationally tugging on their stars. Because this technique is best suited to detecting massive planets close to their stars (large planets located close to their stars create the biggest wobbles), astronomers were unsure whether more gas giants could be found at a greater distance from their stars via different detection methods.

To answer this question, Biller and her colleagues conducted a three-year survey using telescopes in Arizona and Chile. The team looked specifically for gas giants residing relatively far from their parent stars. They surveyed 54 nearby, young stars where gas giant planets would still be forming. Theory predicts young Jupiters are brighter and thus easier to spot than older gas giants.