NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0383
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2009B-0383 |
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PI: David R. Ciardi, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute/Caltech, ciardi@ipac.caltech.edu
Address: 770 South Wilson Ave MS 100-22, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
CoI: Magali Deleuil, Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille
CoI: Steve Howell, NOAO
CoI: Stephen Kane, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute/Caltech
CoI: Kaspar von Braun, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute/Caltech
CoI: Hans Deeg, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
CoI: Elliot Horch, Southern Connecticut State University
CoI: Daniel Rouan, Observatoire Paris-Site de Meudon/LESIA
Title: High Spatial Resolution Observations of CoRoT Exoplanetary Candidates
Abstract:
With the launch of CoRoT, detection of transiting exoplanets will be
pushed to lower and lower planetary masses. CoRoT-7b may be the first
discovery of an earth-sized exoplanet. As with ground-based surveys,
CoRoT candidates need to be screened for background eclipsing binary
stars which, when photometrically blended with the primary target, can
mimic exoplanetary transits. High spatial resolution imaging obtained
in and out of transit can be used to discriminate efficiently between
foreground and background eclipsing sources and to provide an assessment
of the transit candidate stars independent of radial velocity
observations. We are requesting two nights of Keck II with NIRC2 NGSAO
and three nights on WIYN with SPECKLE to obtain high spatial resolution
observations of promising CoRoT transiting candidates. The targets will
be observed prior to, during, and after transit to search for variations
of background sources corresponding to the transit times. The near-
infrared and visible bandpasses of the two instruments enable
sensitivities to slightly different background stars making the two
observing programs complementary for our scientific goals. The superior
capabilities of the Keck and WIYN telescopes will uniquely contribute to
the discovery of the smallest known transiting exoplanets.
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 > 2009B-0383 |
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