Nancy Thomas & Anton Le

Extrasolar planets (or exoplanets) are planets outside of our solar system The discovery of exoplanets tells us more about planetary systems including where life could possibly be sustained Exoplanets have recently become a more important focus in astronomy as technology is changing

Exoplanets around Piscis Austrinus

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/files/2008/11/ex oplanet-pictured-2.jpg

Selection bias towards larger exoplanets with smaller orbits Methods of detection
Radial velocity: variations in the radial velocity of

the star with respect to the Earth through the Doppler effect Microlensing: an exoplanet and a stars gravitational field magnifies the light of a background star Transit: our method of detection

Detecting exoplanets when they transit directly in front of a star Change in brightness of the star over time Difficult to observe

Artists impression of a transiting exoplanet

http://www.astronomynow.com/images/transit_CNES.jpg

Study of exoplanets through the UW APOSTLE (APO Survey of Transit Lightcurves of Exoplanets) project Data collected using the Apache Point 2.5 meter telescope on Oct. 9, 2010 (WASP-2) and Oct. 25, 2010 (XO2)

APO 2.5 m Telescope

http://www.sdss.org/includes/sideimages/telescope.html

Our lightcurves are a flux ratio of the stars brightness to a nearby comparison star Calibration issues Notable features:
Ingress, egress, depth, width, shape (curve)

WASP-2 Calibrated Lightcurve

XO-2 Calibrated Lightcurve

Computer programs indicate what the lightcurve tells us about the planetary system Impact Parameter impacts depth, duration and shape Radius Ratio impacts the depth Limb Darkening impacts shape Period of transit impacts ingress and egress

Link: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/images/blog/trans_ani.gif

Questions?