Measuring transit timing variations of exoplanets using small telescopes
Name
1027787054-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
5.57 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
355e798f6d04140c06335eea07acf037
Author(s)
Morley, Caroline V
Advisor(s)
James L. Elliot.
Date Issued
2010
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Transits of exoplanets were observed from June 2009 through January 2010. Six transit light curves are presented in this paper for three planets: WASP-10b, WASP- 11/HAT-P-10b, and TrES-3. Measurements of the planetary radii, semi-major axis, transit duration, and period confirmed literature values to within two sigma. Transit timing variations were not observed in these systems, but calculations show that it would be possible to measure transit timing variations induced by large exomoons (greater than about 6 Earth masses) in the WASP-11/HAT-P-10b system. Challenges of exoplanet observation from small telescopes are discussed. It was determined that overall, transit measurements of many exoplanets using small telescopes can be successful and scientifically useful.
Description
Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 2010.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 57-58).
Subjects
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Terms of Use
MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.
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