Micro-arcsecond astrometry of exoplanet host stars with GRAVITY instrument
Abstract
The 2nd generation Very Large Telescope Interferometer instrument GRAVITY aims at achieving micro-arcsecond accuracy astrometry. In a study of the GRAVITY science cases we investigate the astrometric detection of exoplanets around very low mass stars and closure phase variations during transits . This includes sample selection of M-dwarfs to be surveyed and simulations to identify the "best" survey strategy. With GRAVITY astrometric capability of 10 microarcsec, we expect to detect planets with 4 earth masses in 5 years survey.
- Publication:
-
In the Spirit of Lyot 2010
- Pub Date:
- October 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010lyot.confE..55K