NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0432
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2012A-0432 |
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PI: Paul Anthony Wilson, University of Exeter, paw@astro.ex.ac.uk
Address: School of Physics, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QL, United Kingdom
CoI: Tom Evans, University of Oxford
CoI: David K. Sing, University of Exeter
CoI: Suzanne Aigrain, University of Oxford
Title: Monitoring the Stellar Activity of Transit-Hosting Stars II: supporting HST exoplanet atmosphere observations
Abstract:
We propose to use the CTIO 1.3m telescope with ANDICAM to monitor 5
bright stars that host transiting exoplanets in an effort to
characterise their activity. These observations will provide critical
ground-based support for our large HST program that has been granted 124
orbits to perform a survey of UV-optical atmospheric transmission
spectra for 8 hot Jupiters using the STIS instrument (Cycle 19, Prog
12473, PI D Sing). They are required because active stellar regions
inevitably contaminate measured planetary light curves by causing the
apparent planet-to-star radius to vary in a wavelength dependent manner.
Regular ground-based photometric monitoring performed using the CTIO
1.3m telescope will allow us to determine the spot activity at the time
of the HST observations, so that the stellar baseline flux can be
accurately normalised for every transit observed, enabling transmission
spectra from multiple visits to be combined.
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 > 2012A-0432 |
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