NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2008B-0077
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2008B-0077 |
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PI: Jay Holberg, University of Arizona, holberg@argus.lpl.arizona.edu
Address: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, 1541 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
CoI: Steven B. Howell, NOAO
CoI: Ken Mighell, NOAO
CoI: William Sherry, NSO
CoI: Mark Everett, Planetary Science Institute
Title: Calibrating Observations made with the NASA Kepler Discovery Mission
Abstract: The NASA Kepler Discovery Mission will be launched in early 2009 and begin its search for transiting Earth-like planets. The mission aims to last 4 years during which time it will collect high precision light curves of 100,000 or more stars. Attempting to reach precisions of 1 part in 10^5 per measurement (the level needed to recognize an Earth transit across a sun-like star), proper monitoring and absolute calibration of the focal plane detectors and obtained relative light curves is of prime importance.The Kepler mission science team intends to use spectrophotometric standards (i.e., WDs) to monitor the focal plane health and properly flux calibrate the light curves in an absolute sense. An essential part of this effort involves the use of DA white dwarfs that can be found within the single Kepler field of view. We therefore seek U-band photometric observations covering the Kepler field to locate additional DA white dwarfs to serve as potential Kepler calibration standards.
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 > 2008B-0077 |
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