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Detection of Extrasolar Planets by Transit PhotometryA knowledge of other planetary systems that includes information on the number, size, mass, and spacing of the planets around a variety of star types is needed to deepen our understanding of planetary system formation and processes that give rise to their final configurations. Recent discoveries show that many planetary systems are quite different from the solar system in that they often possess giant planets in short period orbits. The inferred evolution of these planets and their orbital characteristics imply the absence of Earth-like planets near the habitable zone. Information on the properties of the giant-inner planets is now being obtained by both the Doppler velocity and the transit photometry techniques. The combination of the two techniques provides the mass, size, and density of the planets. For the planet orbiting star HD209458, transit photometry provided the first independent confirmation and measurement of the diameter of an extrasolar planet. The observations indicate a planet 1.27 the diameter of Jupiter with 0.63 of its mass (Charbonneau et al. 1999). The results are in excellent agreement with the theory of planetary atmospheres for a planet of the indicated mass and distance from a solar-like star. The observation of the November 23, 1999 transit of that planet made by the Ames Vulcan photometer at Lick Observatory is presented. In the future, the combination of the two techniques will greatly increase the number of discoveries and the richness of the science yield. Small rocky planets at orbital distances from 0.9 to 1.2 AU are more likely to harbor life than the gas giant planets that are now being discovered. However, new technology is needed to find smaller, Earth-like planets, which are about three hundred times less massive than Jupiter-like planets. The Kepler project is a space craft mission designed to discover hundreds of Earth-size planets in and near the habitable zone around a wide variety of stars. To demonstrate that the technology exists to find such small planets, our group has conducted an end-to-end system test. The results of the laboratory tests are presented and show that we are ready to start the search for Earth-size planets.
Document ID
20010084729
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Borucki, William
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Koch, David
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Webster, Larry
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Dunham, Edward
(Lowell Observatory Flagstaff, AZ United States)
Witteborn, Fred
(Orbital Sciences Corp. United States)
Jenkins, Jon
(Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Inst. CA United States)
Caldwell, Douglas
(National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council Moffett Field, CA United States)
Showen, Robert
(Raytheon Co. United States)
DeVincenzi, Donald L.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 13, 2000
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: Astrobiology Science Conference
Location: Moffett Field, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: April 3, 2000
End Date: April 5, 2000
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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