Nancy Thomas & Anton Le

Extrasolar planets (or

exoplanets) are planets
outside of our solar system
The discovery of
exoplanets tells us more
about planetary systems
including where life could
possibly be sustained
Exoplanets have recently
become a more important
focus in astronomy as
technology is changing
Exoplanets around Piscis Austrinus
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/files/2008/11/ex
oplanet-pictured-2.jpg

Selection bias towards larger exoplanets with
smaller orbits
Methods of detection
Radial velocity: variations in the radial velocity of
the star with respect to the Earth through the
Doppler effect
Microlensing: an exoplanet and a stars
gravitational field magnifies the light of a
background star
Transit: our method of detection
Detecting exoplanets
when they transit
directly in front of a
star
Change in brightness
of the star over time
Difficult to observe
Artists impression of a transiting exoplanet
http://www.astronomynow.com/images/transit_CNES.jpg

Study of exoplanets
through the UW
APOSTLE (APO Survey
of Transit Lightcurves
of Exoplanets) project
Data collected using
the Apache Point 2.5
meter telescope on
Oct. 9, 2010 (WASP-2)
and Oct. 25, 2010 (XO-
2)
APO 2.5 m Telescope
http://www.sdss.org/includes/sideimages/telescope.html
















Our lightcurves are a flux ratio of the stars
brightness to a nearby comparison star
Calibration issues
Notable features:
Ingress, egress, depth, width, shape (curve)

WASP-2 Calibrated Lightcurve

XO-2 Calibrated Lightcurve
Computer programs
indicate what the
lightcurve tells us about
the planetary system
Impact Parameter
impacts depth, duration
and shape
Radius Ratio impacts the
depth
Limb Darkening impacts
shape
Period of transit impacts
ingress and egress
Link: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/images/blog/trans_ani.gif

Questions?