Exoplanet discovery and characterisation - Rolling Grant Transfer/Re-issue
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The SuperWASP experiment is the most successful ground based exoplanet detection facility. After its recent upgrade it is now capable of discovering ice giant planets in short orbits and the data from its first 2 year run is now being ingested into the WASP archive. We will continue our successful exploitation of this data in our exoplanet discovery and characterisation programme and prepare for the the first data from our new world leading NGTS experiment. NGTS is designed for routine detection of ice-giants and its red- sensitivity means it will be the leading source of rocky super-Earth planets that are confirmable with current equipment. This will allow us to lead in understanding the most common types of planet and allow us to take the first steps in looking at the different classes of planet and their characteristics.
For our brightest planets we will conduct follow up observations that will allow us to understand their dynamical histories and take the first steps to characterise their atmospheres.
In addition we will study the architectures of exoplanetary systems and in particular we will characterise bright multi-planet and circumbinary systems. Through our collaborations this will allow us to place strong constraints on their evolutionary histories.
This proposal is to allow the transfer of the PI's current fEC from QUB to the University of Warwick where he has recently taken up a new position.
For our brightest planets we will conduct follow up observations that will allow us to understand their dynamical histories and take the first steps to characterise their atmospheres.
In addition we will study the architectures of exoplanetary systems and in particular we will characterise bright multi-planet and circumbinary systems. Through our collaborations this will allow us to place strong constraints on their evolutionary histories.
This proposal is to allow the transfer of the PI's current fEC from QUB to the University of Warwick where he has recently taken up a new position.
Planned Impact
Astronomy has always captured the attention of humans. Some of the deepest philosophical questions pertaining to our existence in the universe are perceived to be of (or at least related to) an astronomical nature. This gives us a massive advantage when compared to other scientific endevours. In no subject is this more true than exoplanets as their existence is bound up with the search for intelligent life in the universe - one of the mother questions of our existence. With this in mind we have found that the principles underlying exoplanet detection and bulk characterization are ideal subject matter to demonstrate basic physics in an exciting way and naturally lead in to discussions of habitability (both in the context of exoplanets and the Earth).
After recent NAM's the most popular news releases have invariable been those that are concerned with extrasolar planets. We are fortunate that the WASP project put UK astronomers at the forefront of this subject and the applicants have gained much experience with the media (radio, print and TV). This was recognized with the award of the 2010 Royal Society Exhibition "The detection of extra-terrestrial life and the consequences for science and society" where the applicants were active participants. The WASP project really grabbed both the national and international attention. At the international level the Project was received the accolade of one of the top ten discovery's in all of science in 2007 after the announcement/publication of WASP-3b (Pollacco et al, 2008, MNRAS 385, 1576). On a national stage, Pollacco, on behalf of the WASP Consortium, received the RAS Team Achievement Award for 2010.
NGTS will be the premiere transit experiment in the near/medium future and with science drivers that will make some of our most exciting discoveries of great public interest: NGTS exoplanets will be amongst the closest and potentially of rocky composition. Furthermore, NGTS planets will be prized targets for all future atmospheric characterization missions (including JWST). At a national level our demonstrated relationship with STFC Outreach and, of course, our universities will guarantee interest for all audiences.
After recent NAM's the most popular news releases have invariable been those that are concerned with extrasolar planets. We are fortunate that the WASP project put UK astronomers at the forefront of this subject and the applicants have gained much experience with the media (radio, print and TV). This was recognized with the award of the 2010 Royal Society Exhibition "The detection of extra-terrestrial life and the consequences for science and society" where the applicants were active participants. The WASP project really grabbed both the national and international attention. At the international level the Project was received the accolade of one of the top ten discovery's in all of science in 2007 after the announcement/publication of WASP-3b (Pollacco et al, 2008, MNRAS 385, 1576). On a national stage, Pollacco, on behalf of the WASP Consortium, received the RAS Team Achievement Award for 2010.
NGTS will be the premiere transit experiment in the near/medium future and with science drivers that will make some of our most exciting discoveries of great public interest: NGTS exoplanets will be amongst the closest and potentially of rocky composition. Furthermore, NGTS planets will be prized targets for all future atmospheric characterization missions (including JWST). At a national level our demonstrated relationship with STFC Outreach and, of course, our universities will guarantee interest for all audiences.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Don Pollacco (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Burton J
(2012)
z '-BAND GROUND-BASED DETECTION OF THE SECONDARY ECLIPSE OF WASP-19b
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Neveu-VanMalle M
(2014)
WASP-94 A and B planets: hot-Jupiter cousins in a twin-star system
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hay K
(2016)
WASP-92b, WASP-93b and WASP-118b: three new transiting close-in giant planets
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Faedi F
(2016)
WASP-86b and WASP-102b: super-dense versus bloated planets
Triaud A
(2013)
WASP-80b: a gas giant transiting a cool dwarf
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Triaud A
(2015)
WASP-80b has a dayside within the T-dwarf range
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Triaud A
(2015)
WASP-80b has a dayside within the T-dwarf range
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Smalley B
(2012)
WASP-78b and WASP-79b: two highly-bloated hot Jupiter-mass exoplanets orbiting F-type stars in Eridanus
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Maxted P
(2013)
WASP-77 Ab: A Transiting Hot Jupiter Planet in a Wide Binary System1
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Smith A
(2013)
WASP-71b: a bloated hot Jupiter in a 2.9-day, prograde orbit around an evolved F8 star
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gillon M
(2013)
WASP-64 b and WASP-72 b: two new transiting highly irradiated giant planets
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Faedi F
(2013)
WASP-54b, WASP-56b, and WASP-57b: Three new sub-Jupiter mass planets from SuperWASP
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hébrard G
(2013)
WASP-52b, WASP-58b, WASP-59b, and WASP-60b: Four new transiting close-in giant planets
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Anderson D
(2012)
WASP-44b, WASP-45b and WASP-46b: three short-period, transiting extrasolar planets WASP-44b, WASP-45b and WASP-46b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lendl M
(2012)
WASP-42 b and WASP-49 b: two new transiting sub-Jupiters
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Smith A
(2012)
WASP-36b: A NEW TRANSITING PLANET AROUND A METAL-POOR G-DWARF, AND AN INVESTIGATION INTO ANALYSES BASED ON A SINGLE TRANSIT LIGHT CURVE
in The Astronomical Journal
Anderson D
(2015)
WASP-20b and WASP-28b: a hot Saturn and a hot Jupiter in near-aligned orbits around solar-type stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Anderson D
(2015)
WASP-20b and WASP-28b: a hot Saturn and a hot Jupiter in near-aligned orbits around solar-type stars
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mocnik T
(2016)
WASP-157b, a Transiting Hot Jupiter Observed with K2
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Spake J
(2016)
WASP-135b: A Highly Irradiated, Inflated Hot Jupiter Orbiting a G5V Star
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Delrez L
(2016)
WASP-121 b: a hot Jupiter close to tidal disruption transiting an active F star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Turner O
(2016)
WASP-120 b, WASP-122 b, and WASP-123 b: Three Newly Discovered Planets from the WASP-South Survey
in Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Lendl M
(2014)
WASP-117b: a 10-day-period Saturn in an eccentric and misaligned orbit
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Barros S
(2016)
WASP-113b and WASP-114b, two inflated hot Jupiters with contrasting densities
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Smith A
(2014)
WASP-104b and WASP-106b: two transiting hot Jupiters in 1.75-day and 9.3-day orbits
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gillon M
(2014)
WASP-103 b: a new planet at the edge of tidal disruption
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mahtani D
(2013)
Warm Spitzer occultation photometry of WASP-26b at 3.6 and 4.5 µm
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Tyndall A
(2013)
Two rings but no fellowship: LoTr 1 and its relation to planetary nebulae possessing barium central stars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Delrez L
(2014)
Transiting planets from WASP-South, Euler, and TRAPPIST WASP-68 b, WASP-73 b, and WASP-88 b, three hot Jupiters transiting evolved solar-type stars???
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hellier C
(2014)
Transiting hot Jupiters from WASP-South, Euler and TRAPPIST: WASP-95b to WASP-101b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Barros S
(2013)
Transit timing variations in WASP-10b induced by stellar activity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Armstrong D
(2017)
Transit shapes and self-organizing maps as a tool for ranking planetary candidates: application to Kepler and K2
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Burton J
(2014)
TIDALLY DISTORTED EXOPLANETS: DENSITY CORRECTIONS FOR SHORT-PERIOD HOT-JUPITERS BASED SOLELY ON OBSERVABLE PARAMETERS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hellier C
(2015)
THREE WASP-SOUTH TRANSITING EXOPLANETS: WASP-74b, WASP-83b, AND WASP-89b
in The Astronomical Journal
Hellier C
(2015)
THREE WASP-SOUTH TRANSITING EXOPLANETS: WASP-74b, WASP-83b, AND WASP-89b
in The Astronomical Journal
Anderson D
(2014)
Three newly discovered sub-Jupiter-mass planets: WASP-69b and WASP-84b transit active K dwarfs and WASP-70Ab transits the evolved primary of a G4+K3 binary?â€
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
West R
(2016)
Three irradiated and bloated hot Jupiters: WASP-76b, WASP-82b, and WASP-90b?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
West R
(2016)
Three irradiated and bloated hot Jupiters: WASP-76b, WASP-82b, and WASP-90b?
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Smith A
(2012)
Thermal emission from WASP-24b at 3.6 and 4.5 µ m
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Anderson D
(2013)
Thermal emission at 3.6-8 µm from WASP-19b: a hot Jupiter without a stratosphere orbiting an active star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Anderson D
(2015)
THE WELL-ALIGNED ORBIT OF WASP-84b: EVIDENCE FOR DISK MIGRATION OF A HOT JUPITER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Anderson D
(2015)
THE WELL-ALIGNED ORBIT OF WASP-84b: EVIDENCE FOR DISK MIGRATION OF A HOT JUPITER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Rostron J
(2014)
The thermal emission of the exoplanet WASP-3b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Haywood R
(2016)
The Sun as a planet-host star: proxies from SDO images for HARPS radial-velocity variations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Faedi F
(2013)
The SOAPS project - Spin-orbit alignment of planetary systems Exoplanets' evolution histories in systems with different architectures
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Rauer H
(2014)
The PLATO 2.0 mission
in Experimental Astronomy
Wheatley P
(2013)
The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS)
in EPJ Web of Conferences
Rodriguez Joseph E.
(2017)
The Mysterious Dimmings of the T Tauri Star V1334 Tau
in ArXiv e-prints
Talens G. J. J.
(2017)
The Multi-site All-Sky CAmeRA: Finding transiting exoplanets around bright ($m_V < 8$) stars
in ArXiv e-prints
Jones D
(2012)
The morphology and kinematics of the Fine Ring Nebula, planetary nebula Sp 1, and the shaping influence of its binary central star? The morphology of Sp 1
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
| Description | Continued characterisation of large planets. These objects have the most accurately determined parameters of the population. |
| Exploitation Route | used by theorists to understand the planet population. |
| Sectors | Education |