Astrolunch - 17th December

Jessie Christiansen (CfA) : The NASA EPOXI Mission: Gathering ultraprecise photometry of transiting exoplanets

The NASA Discovery mission EPOXI, utilizing the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft, comprises two phases: EPOCh (Extrasolar Planet Observation and Characterization) and DIXI (Deep Impact eXtended Investigation). With EPOCh, we use the 30-cm high resolution visible imager to obtain ultraprecise photometric light curves of known transiting planet systems. We are analysing these data for evidence of additional planets, via transit timing variations or transits; for planetary moons or rings; for detection of secondary eclipses and the constraint of geometric planetary albedos; and for refinement of the system parameters. We have completed observations of seven targets and I will present the current light curves and preliminary analysis.