The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS): Operations 2022-2025
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
In this proposal we request continued STFC support for operations of the Next-Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) project, covering the period April 2022 to March 2025.
NGTS employs an array of twelve purpose-built telescopes at the ESO Paranal Observatory, Chile, that are optimised for exoplanet transit observations. For stars of 9th magnitude and fainter we match the space-based photometric precision of the TESS mission (as good as 100ppm in 30min at 9th magnitude with 12 telescopes), which is unprecedented for a ground-based instrument. Our primary goal is to find and characterise exoplanets that are well suited to detailed studies with large facilities, such as ESO's VLT and ELT telescopes.
NGTS is led from the UK, with a consortium that includes members from eight UK institutions together with international partners in Geneva, Berlin and Chile. Capital costs were funded by the consortium institutes, and operations are supported by STFC together with in-kind contributions from ESO. The facility has been operational since 2016, and NGTS data have been used in more than fifty refereed publications across a wide range of science topics.
Our science programme for the period 2022-2025 will focus on two main topics: 1) the discovery and characterisation of long-period exoplanets identified as candidates from single-transit events in TESS data; and 2) probing planetary evolution by searching for young exoplanets in open clusters where the fields are too crowded for TESS. NGTS data will also support a wide range of non-exoplanet science, including the evolution of stellar rotation, stellar flares on ultracool dwarfs, coronal heating by nano-flares, transits and eclipses of white dwarfs, and the variability of cataclysmic variables and young stellar objects.
These science goals will be pursued by members the NGTS consortium, which already includes 47 UK astronomers from 8 institutes, and with new members continuing to join via an open call for UK collaborators. The wider astronomical community also has the opportunity to exploit NGTS data, which is made publicly available through the ESO archive.
We request funding for three main tasks that are required for NGTS operations. In addition to project management (WP1), these are: the daily operation of the facility, including scheduling of observations (WP2); the maintenance of the telescopes and buildings in Chile (WP3); and the processing and curation of the data (WP4). The main cost for the project is the PDRA needed for WPs 2-4. We also request investigator time to support WPs 1-4, and the travel and consumables needed to operate the remote facility. Our project supports a broad UK community including the training of a new generation of scientists in preparation for PLATO and ARIEL.
NGTS employs an array of twelve purpose-built telescopes at the ESO Paranal Observatory, Chile, that are optimised for exoplanet transit observations. For stars of 9th magnitude and fainter we match the space-based photometric precision of the TESS mission (as good as 100ppm in 30min at 9th magnitude with 12 telescopes), which is unprecedented for a ground-based instrument. Our primary goal is to find and characterise exoplanets that are well suited to detailed studies with large facilities, such as ESO's VLT and ELT telescopes.
NGTS is led from the UK, with a consortium that includes members from eight UK institutions together with international partners in Geneva, Berlin and Chile. Capital costs were funded by the consortium institutes, and operations are supported by STFC together with in-kind contributions from ESO. The facility has been operational since 2016, and NGTS data have been used in more than fifty refereed publications across a wide range of science topics.
Our science programme for the period 2022-2025 will focus on two main topics: 1) the discovery and characterisation of long-period exoplanets identified as candidates from single-transit events in TESS data; and 2) probing planetary evolution by searching for young exoplanets in open clusters where the fields are too crowded for TESS. NGTS data will also support a wide range of non-exoplanet science, including the evolution of stellar rotation, stellar flares on ultracool dwarfs, coronal heating by nano-flares, transits and eclipses of white dwarfs, and the variability of cataclysmic variables and young stellar objects.
These science goals will be pursued by members the NGTS consortium, which already includes 47 UK astronomers from 8 institutes, and with new members continuing to join via an open call for UK collaborators. The wider astronomical community also has the opportunity to exploit NGTS data, which is made publicly available through the ESO archive.
We request funding for three main tasks that are required for NGTS operations. In addition to project management (WP1), these are: the daily operation of the facility, including scheduling of observations (WP2); the maintenance of the telescopes and buildings in Chile (WP3); and the processing and curation of the data (WP4). The main cost for the project is the PDRA needed for WPs 2-4. We also request investigator time to support WPs 1-4, and the travel and consumables needed to operate the remote facility. Our project supports a broad UK community including the training of a new generation of scientists in preparation for PLATO and ARIEL.
Organisations
- University of Warwick (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Geneva (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- University of Chile (Collaboration)
- German Aerospace Centre (DLR) (Collaboration)
- Andor Technology (Collaboration)
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Ahrer E
(2023)
Early Release Science of the exoplanet WASP-39b with JWST NIRCam
in Nature
Alves D
(2022)
NGTS-21b: an inflated Super-Jupiter orbiting a metal-poor K dwarf
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Azevedo Silva T
(2022)
The HD 137496 system: A dense, hot super-Mercury and a cold Jupiter
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Barragán O
(2022)
The young HD 73583 (TOI-560) planetary system: two 10-M? mini-Neptunes transiting a 500-Myr-old, bright, and active K dwarf
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Briegal J
(2022)
Periodic stellar variability from almost a million NGTS light curves
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Doyle L
(2022)
The Hot Neptune WASP-166 b with ESPRESSO - I. Refining the planetary architecture and stellar variability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Doyle L
(2023)
WASP-131 b with ESPRESSO - I. A bloated sub-Saturn on a polar orbit around a differentially rotating solar-type star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Duffy C
(2022)
The return of the spin period in DW Cnc and evidence of new high state outbursts
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
El Mufti M
(2022)
TOI 560: Two Transiting Planets Orbiting a K Dwarf Validated with iSHELL, PFS, and HIRES RVs
in The Astronomical Journal
| Description | Chair of STFC oversight committee for new robotic telescope |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Member of Project Management Board for the UKSA contribution to ESA Ariel space mission |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Precision Photometry with the new generation of fast readout Scientific CMOS Cameras |
| Amount | £88,266 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/W005077/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| Description | NGTS Consortium |
| Organisation | Andor Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are leading the development of the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which is a project aiming to discover small planets around bright stars using an array of robotic telescopes at the ESO Paranal site in Chile. We initiated the project with an institutional investment of £300k, and have been joined by 5 partner institutes all making comparable financial investments. At Warwick we have purchased key components of the facility (including CCD cameras and telescope mounts), led site negotiations with ESO, and we are leading the development of the observatory control and data analysis software. In the operational phase of the project, with support from STFC, we will carrying out the data analysis and lead the search for new planets in NGTS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geneva - have purchased key equipment and led the mechanical and optical design of the telescope array. DLR - have purchased CCD cameras and contributed to the development of data analysis software. Leicester - have purchased CCD cameras and computing hardware and led the calibration of the CCD cameras. Cavendish - have purchased key equipment and provided staff support for the installation of the facility in Chile. Belfast - developed a prototype instrument for La Palma that demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the survey. |
| Impact | Primary output will be the discovery and characterisation of new exoplanets (published in peer reviewed journals). The NGTS data will also be made publicly available through the ESO data archive. Our collaboration with the manufacturer of our CCD cameras (Andor) has resulted in a new camera product and an improved understanding of CCD camera stability. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | NGTS Consortium |
| Organisation | German Aerospace Centre (DLR) |
| Department | DLR Institute Of Planetary Research |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are leading the development of the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which is a project aiming to discover small planets around bright stars using an array of robotic telescopes at the ESO Paranal site in Chile. We initiated the project with an institutional investment of £300k, and have been joined by 5 partner institutes all making comparable financial investments. At Warwick we have purchased key components of the facility (including CCD cameras and telescope mounts), led site negotiations with ESO, and we are leading the development of the observatory control and data analysis software. In the operational phase of the project, with support from STFC, we will carrying out the data analysis and lead the search for new planets in NGTS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geneva - have purchased key equipment and led the mechanical and optical design of the telescope array. DLR - have purchased CCD cameras and contributed to the development of data analysis software. Leicester - have purchased CCD cameras and computing hardware and led the calibration of the CCD cameras. Cavendish - have purchased key equipment and provided staff support for the installation of the facility in Chile. Belfast - developed a prototype instrument for La Palma that demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the survey. |
| Impact | Primary output will be the discovery and characterisation of new exoplanets (published in peer reviewed journals). The NGTS data will also be made publicly available through the ESO data archive. Our collaboration with the manufacturer of our CCD cameras (Andor) has resulted in a new camera product and an improved understanding of CCD camera stability. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | NGTS Consortium |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are leading the development of the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which is a project aiming to discover small planets around bright stars using an array of robotic telescopes at the ESO Paranal site in Chile. We initiated the project with an institutional investment of £300k, and have been joined by 5 partner institutes all making comparable financial investments. At Warwick we have purchased key components of the facility (including CCD cameras and telescope mounts), led site negotiations with ESO, and we are leading the development of the observatory control and data analysis software. In the operational phase of the project, with support from STFC, we will carrying out the data analysis and lead the search for new planets in NGTS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geneva - have purchased key equipment and led the mechanical and optical design of the telescope array. DLR - have purchased CCD cameras and contributed to the development of data analysis software. Leicester - have purchased CCD cameras and computing hardware and led the calibration of the CCD cameras. Cavendish - have purchased key equipment and provided staff support for the installation of the facility in Chile. Belfast - developed a prototype instrument for La Palma that demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the survey. |
| Impact | Primary output will be the discovery and characterisation of new exoplanets (published in peer reviewed journals). The NGTS data will also be made publicly available through the ESO data archive. Our collaboration with the manufacturer of our CCD cameras (Andor) has resulted in a new camera product and an improved understanding of CCD camera stability. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | NGTS Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Department | Cavendish Laboratory |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are leading the development of the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which is a project aiming to discover small planets around bright stars using an array of robotic telescopes at the ESO Paranal site in Chile. We initiated the project with an institutional investment of £300k, and have been joined by 5 partner institutes all making comparable financial investments. At Warwick we have purchased key components of the facility (including CCD cameras and telescope mounts), led site negotiations with ESO, and we are leading the development of the observatory control and data analysis software. In the operational phase of the project, with support from STFC, we will carrying out the data analysis and lead the search for new planets in NGTS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geneva - have purchased key equipment and led the mechanical and optical design of the telescope array. DLR - have purchased CCD cameras and contributed to the development of data analysis software. Leicester - have purchased CCD cameras and computing hardware and led the calibration of the CCD cameras. Cavendish - have purchased key equipment and provided staff support for the installation of the facility in Chile. Belfast - developed a prototype instrument for La Palma that demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the survey. |
| Impact | Primary output will be the discovery and characterisation of new exoplanets (published in peer reviewed journals). The NGTS data will also be made publicly available through the ESO data archive. Our collaboration with the manufacturer of our CCD cameras (Andor) has resulted in a new camera product and an improved understanding of CCD camera stability. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | NGTS Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Chile |
| Department | Department of Astronomy (DAS) |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are leading the development of the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which is a project aiming to discover small planets around bright stars using an array of robotic telescopes at the ESO Paranal site in Chile. We initiated the project with an institutional investment of £300k, and have been joined by 5 partner institutes all making comparable financial investments. At Warwick we have purchased key components of the facility (including CCD cameras and telescope mounts), led site negotiations with ESO, and we are leading the development of the observatory control and data analysis software. In the operational phase of the project, with support from STFC, we will carrying out the data analysis and lead the search for new planets in NGTS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geneva - have purchased key equipment and led the mechanical and optical design of the telescope array. DLR - have purchased CCD cameras and contributed to the development of data analysis software. Leicester - have purchased CCD cameras and computing hardware and led the calibration of the CCD cameras. Cavendish - have purchased key equipment and provided staff support for the installation of the facility in Chile. Belfast - developed a prototype instrument for La Palma that demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the survey. |
| Impact | Primary output will be the discovery and characterisation of new exoplanets (published in peer reviewed journals). The NGTS data will also be made publicly available through the ESO data archive. Our collaboration with the manufacturer of our CCD cameras (Andor) has resulted in a new camera product and an improved understanding of CCD camera stability. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | NGTS Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Geneva |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are leading the development of the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which is a project aiming to discover small planets around bright stars using an array of robotic telescopes at the ESO Paranal site in Chile. We initiated the project with an institutional investment of £300k, and have been joined by 5 partner institutes all making comparable financial investments. At Warwick we have purchased key components of the facility (including CCD cameras and telescope mounts), led site negotiations with ESO, and we are leading the development of the observatory control and data analysis software. In the operational phase of the project, with support from STFC, we will carrying out the data analysis and lead the search for new planets in NGTS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geneva - have purchased key equipment and led the mechanical and optical design of the telescope array. DLR - have purchased CCD cameras and contributed to the development of data analysis software. Leicester - have purchased CCD cameras and computing hardware and led the calibration of the CCD cameras. Cavendish - have purchased key equipment and provided staff support for the installation of the facility in Chile. Belfast - developed a prototype instrument for La Palma that demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the survey. |
| Impact | Primary output will be the discovery and characterisation of new exoplanets (published in peer reviewed journals). The NGTS data will also be made publicly available through the ESO data archive. Our collaboration with the manufacturer of our CCD cameras (Andor) has resulted in a new camera product and an improved understanding of CCD camera stability. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | NGTS Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are leading the development of the Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS), which is a project aiming to discover small planets around bright stars using an array of robotic telescopes at the ESO Paranal site in Chile. We initiated the project with an institutional investment of £300k, and have been joined by 5 partner institutes all making comparable financial investments. At Warwick we have purchased key components of the facility (including CCD cameras and telescope mounts), led site negotiations with ESO, and we are leading the development of the observatory control and data analysis software. In the operational phase of the project, with support from STFC, we will carrying out the data analysis and lead the search for new planets in NGTS data. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Geneva - have purchased key equipment and led the mechanical and optical design of the telescope array. DLR - have purchased CCD cameras and contributed to the development of data analysis software. Leicester - have purchased CCD cameras and computing hardware and led the calibration of the CCD cameras. Cavendish - have purchased key equipment and provided staff support for the installation of the facility in Chile. Belfast - developed a prototype instrument for La Palma that demonstrated the scientific feasibility of the survey. |
| Impact | Primary output will be the discovery and characterisation of new exoplanets (published in peer reviewed journals). The NGTS data will also be made publicly available through the ESO data archive. Our collaboration with the manufacturer of our CCD cameras (Andor) has resulted in a new camera product and an improved understanding of CCD camera stability. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | sCMOS camera development and on-sky testing with Andor Technology |
| Organisation | Andor Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are carrying out on-sky testing of an Andor sCMOS camera for high-precision exoplanet detection at the NGTS facility in Chile. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Andor is providing lab space and hosting a PhD student who is studying the application of sCMOS cameras to high-precision photometry needed for exoplanet science. |
| Impact | Initial characterisation of camera technology and data reduction methods have been carried out and results discussed with Andor. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | A talk at Leicester Grammar School - May 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A talk on hunting for exoplanets |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | A talk to Melton Astronomical Society - Nov 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Lecture and discussion on detecting and studying exoplanet atmospheres. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://meltonastronomical.weebly.com |
| Description | Planet Hunters NGTS Citizen Science Project (on zooniverse platform) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 5500 volunteers from the general public are carrying out a citizen science project to find new extra-solar planets in the NGTS dataset |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/mschwamb/planet-hunters-ngts |
| Description | warwick open day talks |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Talks to groups of 200-300 at University of Warwick open days |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021,2022,2023 |