NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0321
|
NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0321 |
|
PI: Natalie R. Hinkel, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, natalie.hinkel@gmail.com
Address: 770 South Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
CoI: Stephen Kane, NASA Exoplanet Science Institute
CoI: Jason Wright, Pennsylvania State University
CoI: Andrew Howard, University of California, Berkeley
CoI: Sharon X. Wang, Pennsylvania State University
Title: Detecting Transit Signatures for Southern Sky Exoplanets Around Bright Hosts
Abstract: We propose to use the CTIO 0.9m telescope to conduct a photometric survey of transit signatures for 9 unique exoplanet host stars as part of the Transit Ephemeris Refinement and Monitoring Survey (TERMS). The photometric follow-up of planets discovered by the radial velocity technique has yielded known transiting extra-solar planets, especially for those with the brightest host stars (e.g., HD 209458b), such as our targets. The proposed 9 targets orbit stars with V-magnitudes ranging from 7.2-10.2, where all predicted transit windows fall within Nov 16- 29. TERMS produces the most accurate transit ephemerides available through a combination of literature and new radial velocity data, which is absolutely necessary for observationally detecting transits and characterizing the planetary system. In the event of a transit, we will be able to measure the true mass, radius, and density of the planet. Given that many of our targets are long-period (> 10 days) planets, we will also be able to better understand the formation of these planets with respect to known hot Jupiters. In the case of a null detection, our photometry is used to better constraint the properties of the host star, which can then be used to help characterize the exoplanet parameters.
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 > 2013B-0321 |
|