Exploring Exoplanets Out to the Snowline with LCOGT
Abstract
Microlensing is the most efficient technique for the discovery of cool exoplanets between ~2-10 AU from their host stars, and unique in its capacity to detect and characterize objects down to even lunar masses from ground based observations. The field of microlensing is now reaching maturity, with wider field surveys identifying ~2000 events and ~10 planetary systems per year. Continuous, high precision and high cadence photometry is required over many days spanning the peak of an event to ensure the detection of the subtle anomalies caused by terrestrial companions to the lensing star. Until now this has been achieved with a diverse collection of telescope apertures, worldwide. Here we report on the first season of microlensing observations with a new observing facility ideal for this science: the LCOGT 1m network. During 2012-2013, LCOGT deployed 11 x 1m telescopes to 5 sites around the world in both hemispheres, with the majority of the telescopes going to sites in Chile, South Africa and Australia. These homogenous facilities have now completed their first commissioning season of microlensing observations, demonstrating their capability to find and characterize cool terrestrial planets.
- Publication:
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American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #223
- Pub Date:
- January 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014AAS...22334805S