NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0590
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011A-0590 |
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PI: Verne V. Smith, NOAO, vsmith@noao.edu
Address: NSSC, 950 N. Cherry Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
CoI: Katia Cunha, NOAO
CoI: Luan Ghezzi, Observatorio Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
CoI: Simon C. Schuler, NOAO
Title: Characterizing the Stellar-Metallicity versus Planet-Size Relation for Planet-Hosting Stars in the Kepler Data Release
Abstract:
Chemical abundances in exoplanet-hosting stars, in comparison to
stars which do not harbor known planets, have been found to exhibit
intriguing differences in their respective abundance distributions.
These chemical differences provide clues to how planets form, as well as
how the parent star properties, most importantly the mass and total
metallicity, affect the type of planetary system that forms. The
program proposed here will carry out a detailed stellar parameter and
chemical abundance analysis of a sample of planet-hosting stars
uncovered by the Kepler spacecraft as transiting systems. As only a
relatively small number of detailed abundance analyses have been
undertaken on stars which host planetary systems having their most
massive planets being of roughly Neptunian-mass or smaller, this study
will focus on Neptunian-sized planets in order to test the possibility
that stellar metallicity may play an important role in setting the sizes
of planets in different planetary systems.
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 > 2011A-0590 |
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