Microlensing Planet Search Observations

The Microlensing Planet Search Project (MPS) requests observing time on the CTIO 0.9m telescope for optical photometry of ongoing gravitational microlensing events in order to discover the gravitational lensing signal from planets which may orbit one of the faint lens stars. The gravitational microlensing technique is sensitive to planets of lower mass than other ground based planet search techniques. However, 24-hour coverage of the microlensing lightcurves is necessary for high sensitivity to low mass planets. Therefore, MPS is now expanding so as to observe from all three Southern temperate continents. MPS will have nearly dedicated time on the Mt. Stromlo 1.9m telescope and the Boyden Observatory 1.5m telescope in South Africa. We are requesting a smaller amount of time in Chile, but we would like to request that one week of our request be awarded as target-of-opportunity time to be allocated at short notice when planetary signals are likely to be detectable.