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Detecting Exoplanets and Exomoons

With the Lutz 0.5-Meter Telescope. Detecting Exoplanets and Exomoons. By Kimberly Ward-Duong Mentor: Dr. Stephen C. Tegler NAU Dept. of Physics and Astronomy Arizona/NASA Space Grant Research Symposium Tucson, Arizona April 17, 2010. Exoplanets and Their Transits. Extrasolar Planets

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Detecting Exoplanets and Exomoons

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  1. With the Lutz 0.5-Meter Telescope Detecting Exoplanets and Exomoons By Kimberly Ward-Duong Mentor: Dr. Stephen C. Tegler NAU Dept. of Physics and Astronomy Arizona/NASA Space Grant Research Symposium Tucson, Arizona April 17, 2010

  2. Exoplanets and Their Transits • Extrasolar Planets • 443 systems • 71 known to transit • Transit/lightcurve relation • Tc Our project: 1. Observe stars with known exoplanet transits 2. Analyze transit lightcurves Image credit: http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr121/

  3. Transit Timing Variation (TTV) • Periodic changes in Tc • New technique to detect multiple planet systems • Ideal for the detection of other Earths, super-Earths • None yet discovered by these means! http://images.iop.org/objects/phw/world/22/3/36/PWbra1_03-09.jpg

  4. Data Collection • Atmospheric Research Observatory at NAU • Barry Lutz Telescope • 0.5-m (20-in) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope • Apogee CCD Camera • 150-600+ images • 5-7 hours of data per night Images courtesy of Dr. Stephen Tegler

  5. Data Reduction Process • Creation of detailed analysis procedure • IRAF • Differential photometry • Plot and model lightcurves using MATLAB WASP-11/HAT-P-10

  6. Results • WASP-11/HAT-P-10 • Quadratic limb darkening model fit to data (Mandel & Agol 2002) • Parameters from discovery paper (West et al. 2009) • Free parameter: Tc • Standard deviation: 3 mmag

  7. Discussion/Conclusion • Observed transit timing variation? • Yes! Best fit model Tc early by 5 minutes • 1.8 sec period difference • Possible explanations • More observations needed to verify/explain findings • Long term project plans • Goal: Observe 50-100 transits/object • Further refine modeling specifications • Technique may also prove useful for finding an exomoon Image credit: http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/oconnell/astr121/

  8. Thank you! And many thanks to:Dr. Stephen TeglerDr. Nadine BarlowMs. Kathleen StigmonArron ShifferDavid TollefsenAlex McCannaNASA and the Arizona Space Grant Consortium Questions? Artist’s impression of exoplanet HD 189733b (Giovanni Tinetti) (Title slide image credit: STScI artist rendition)

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