UC Riverside

As long as astronomers have searched for exoplanets, the intrinsic variability of host stars has interfered with the ability to reliably detect and confirm exoplanets. In this thesis, I will give an overview of how stellar variability affects the way astronomer's perceive planets as well as how they affect their planets directly. I first present the results of a photometric data analysis for the known planet hosting star, BD-06~1339, observed by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) during Sector 6 at 2 minute cadence. I discuss evidence that suggests the observed 3.9 day periodic radial velocity signature may be caused by stellar activity rather than a planetary companion, since variability detected in the photometric data are consistent with the periodic signal. I will then conduct a population study of known hosts observed by TESS and discuss both correlations and unique targets that call these variable stars their home.