NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0413
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2013B-0413 |
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PI: Matthew Giguere, Yale University, matthew.giguere@yale.edu
Address: Department of Astronomy, PO Box 208101, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
CoI: Debra Fischer, Yale University
Title: The CHIRON Rocky Planet Search
Abstract:
While the occurrence rate of Jupiter-mass planets around nearby
stars is fairly well known, there is a significant discrepancy between
several published values for the occurrence rate of low-mass planets
(Howard et al. 2010a, Mayor et al. 2011, Fressin et al. 2013). We
propose to use CHIRON, the CTIO High Resolution Spectrometer, to
determine the occurrence rate of low-mass planets and the frequency of
low-mass planets in multi-planet systems, to help resolve this
discrepancy. CHIRON has demonstrated that it is capable of detecting
very low mass planets through its exquisite radial velocity precision
over long time periods. Knowing the mass and period distributions of
planetary systems is necessary in order to understand planet formation
and test formation theories. The low-mass planets around nearby stars
we aim to discover with CHIRON will also be crucial for the development
of future missions to detect the atmospheres of planets orbiting nearby
stars and the eventual determination of the occurrence rate of habitable
worlds.
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 > 2013B-0413 |
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