The Microlensing Planet Finder: A Census Of Planetary Systems Like Our Own.
Abstract
The Microlensing Planet Finder (MPF) will complete the first census of extrasolar planets with sensitivity to planets like those in our own Solar System. MPF uses a proven low-mass planet detection method to detect planets with masses of 0.1 Earth masses or more at all separations of 0.5 AU or larger from their host stars. MPF's planetary census provides critical data for understanding planet formation and habitability that cannot be obtained by other means. MPF's results complement those of the Kepler mission, which detects Earth-like planets at separations of 1 AU or less. MPF and Kepler overlap at a 1 AU, in the habitable zone for Solar type stars.
MPF's employs a 1.1m telescope with a 0.65 square degree FOV that images in the near IR (600-1700nm). MPF's inclined geosynchronous orbit allows continuous data transmission to a dedicated ground station while maintaining continuous, high angular resolution observations of 2.5 square degrees of the central Galactic bulge. This is necessary to discovery terrestrial extrasolar planets at a wide range of orbital separations. If every planetary system has the same planet-star mass ratios and separations as our own Solar System, then MPF detects 150 terrestrial planets, 6000 gas giants, and 130 ice giants. MPF also detects 60 free-floating Earths if there is one such planet per Galactic star. During the 3 months per year when the Galactic bulge cannot be observed, addresses other science goals, such as the follow-up of Kepler planet candidates observations to exclude "false positive” Kepler planet detections. MPF also searches beyond the Kuiper Belt for objects like Sedna to test theories of the Solar System's formation and runs a General Observer program.- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #208
- Pub Date:
- September 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006AAS...208.7602B