Discovering New Worlds with sCMOS Cameras

We aim to very precisely measure the light from distance stars using a state-of-the-art digital camera and telescope. These measurements will be so sensitive that we can detect if an orbiting planet happens to pass in front of the star - an event we call a "transit". Detecting these transits allows us not only to discover other worlds, but also to measure the radius and orbital periods of these worlds. In this project we will be using a camera that uses a new technology called a sCMOS detector. This is similar to the detector in your mobile phone camera, but it must be much more sensitive and precise in order to detect transits of exoplanets around stars. This project will pave the way for more efficient and cheaper astronomical imaging than is currently available with existing detectors.