NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0126
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0126 |
|
PI: David R. Ciardi, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute/Caltech, ciardi@ipac.caltech.edu
Address: 770 S. Wilson Avenue, 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 Astrofsica de Canarias
CoI: Elliott Horch, Southern Connecticut State University
CoI: Daniel Rouan, Observatoire Paris-Site de Meudon/LESIA
Title: High Spatial Resolution Observations of CoRoT Exo-planetary Candidates
Abstract:
With the launch of CoRoT, detection of transiting exoplanets is
being pushed to lower and lower planetary masses. CoRoT-7b is the first
discovery of an transiting 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 three nights on WIYN
with SPECKLE to obtain high spatial resolution observations of promising
CoRoT transiting candidates. The targets will be observed in and out of
transit to search for variations of background sources corresponding to
the transit times. The optical bandpass of the instrument mimics that
of the spacecraft enabling sensitivities to stars to which CoRoT itself
is sensitive. The superior capabilities of the WIYN telescope 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
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2010A-0126 |
|