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PLANET II: A Microlensing and Transit Search for Extrasolar Planets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2017

Penny D. Sackett
Affiliation:
Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, ANU, Mt. Stromlo Observatory, Cotter Road, Weston Creek ACT 2611, Australia
M. D. Albrow
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
J.-P. Beaulieu
Affiliation:
Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Paris, France
J.A.R. Caldwell
Affiliation:
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
C. Coutures
Affiliation:
European Southern Observatory, LaSilla, Chile
J. Greenhill
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
K. Hill
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
K. Horne
Affiliation:
St. Andrews University, St. Andrews, Scotland
U.-G. Jorgensen
Affiliation:
Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
S. Kane
Affiliation:
St. Andrews University, St. Andrews, Scotland
D. Kubas
Affiliation:
University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
R. Martin
Affiliation:
Perth Observatory, Bickley, Australia
J. W. Menzies
Affiliation:
South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
K. R. Pollard
Affiliation:
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
K. C. Sahu
Affiliation:
Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, Paris, France
J. Wambsganss
Affiliation:
University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
R. Watson
Affiliation:
University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
A. Williams
Affiliation:
Perth Observatory, Bickley, Australia

Abstract

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Due to their extremely small luminosity compared to the stars they orbit, planets outside our own Solar System are extraordinarily difficult to detect directly in optical light. Careful photometric monitoring of distant stars, however, can reveal the presence of exoplanets via the microlensing or eclipsing effects they induce. The international PLANET collaboration is performing such monitoring using a cadre of semi-dedicated telescopes around the world. Their results constrain the number of gas giants orbiting 1–7 AU from the most typical stars in the Galaxy. Upgrades in the program are opening regions of “exoplanet discovery space” – toward smaller masses and larger orbital radii – that are inaccessible to the Doppler velocity technique.

Type
Extrasolar Planets
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2004 

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