NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2008A-0500
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2008A-0500 |
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PI: Joshua Pepper, Vanderbilt University, joshua.pepper@vanderbilt.edu
Address: Physics Department, VU Station B 1807, Nashville, TN 37235, United States
CoI: Keivan Stassun, Vanderbilt University
Title: Radial-Velocity Confirmation for Two Promising Exoplanet Candidates in Praesepe
Abstract:
Transiting exoplanets orbiting bright stars are the most
scientifically valuable extrasolar planets. In the past two years wide-
angle surveys have begun to yield confirmed transiting planets. Our
Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) project has found four
planetary transit candidates in the project's commissioning observations
of the Praesepe cluster. All four targets have been observed with low-
resolution spectroscopy, which identified two of the candidates as
astrophysical false positives (different types of stellar eclipsing
binaries). To establish the planetary nature of the remaining two
candidates, we require high-resolution spectroscopy capable of extremely
precise radial velocity measurements. The Exoplanet Tracker (ET) is
well-equipped to perform the necessary follow-up observations of these
candidates. We propose to use ET to confirm that these two KELT
candidates are indeed transiting extrasolar planets and to establish
preliminary orbital solutions for the planets.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2008A-0500 |
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