The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS): Deployment and Operations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) is poised to become the leading survey of exoplanets during the coming decade and springboard UK scientists to leading roles in this important area of research. Based around our WASP heritage and international collaborations, we have designed and procured almost the complete facility. This included building and testing a prototype instrument running on La Palma where various technologies were tested and the risks to the project mitigated. This instrument allowed us to find technologies and strategies where we can virtually eliminate instrument systematic noise - a problem that severely limits the performance of all other wide field surveys and, hence, allows us to unlock the full potential of our survey. The quality of the NGTS data of a single object will be similar in to that obtained from a much larger telescope but will be available for all objects over a much larger field than is traditionally the case. Thus we know we can routinely reach accuracy sufficient to detect ice giants and super-Earth planets around nearby stars which will not only allow us to answer fundamental questions about the composition and origin of planets (eg what is the internal structure of super-Earths?) but also to discover planets that will be prized targets for atmospheric studies with facilities currently being built (JWST) or those being planned (eg E-ELT and a number of space missions). Over the course of a 4 year survey this will allow a factor of 16 improvement over the Kepler results for a comparable planet population. In this endevour, NGTS is partnered with ESO who have contributed a site at Paranal (the best site in the world for our purposes) and will distribute our reduced light curves to the wider astronomical community through the ESO archive.
In this proposal we request STFC support to contribute to the deployment and operation of the facility (and a small capital contribution to be matched by our institutes) over a 4 year period. These duties are divided into five work packages that deal with all aspects of the project. Science exploitation costs we will seek through other opportunities open to us.
In this proposal we request STFC support to contribute to the deployment and operation of the facility (and a small capital contribution to be matched by our institutes) over a 4 year period. These duties are divided into five work packages that deal with all aspects of the project. Science exploitation costs we will seek through other opportunities open to us.
Planned Impact
NGTS uses fully optimized components specifically designed to reach the highest level of photometric accuracy achievable by any ground based experiment. This is required to reach our scientific aims. To realize this we have worked with two specific UK manufacturers that we have an established relationship with (over the last decade).
At the heart of NGTS are the CCD detectors. These were produced by Andor Technology (Belfast) and are based on e2v deep depleted sensors, but have been packaged and customized inline with our requirements. Andor have now released these state of the art units as one of their normal catalogue products.
We have also again worked with GR Pro. With this company we designed and manufactured the original SuperWASP enclosure, larger versions of which have been used in other astronomical facilities. NGTS required a different design and we have again worked with their design team to produce a new modular product that GR Pro will market. The technology developed for this will also be used in other products.
Our partnership with ESO gives us access to a large and modern Outreach Department from which we will reach an international audience. 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.
At the heart of NGTS are the CCD detectors. These were produced by Andor Technology (Belfast) and are based on e2v deep depleted sensors, but have been packaged and customized inline with our requirements. Andor have now released these state of the art units as one of their normal catalogue products.
We have also again worked with GR Pro. With this company we designed and manufactured the original SuperWASP enclosure, larger versions of which have been used in other astronomical facilities. NGTS required a different design and we have again worked with their design team to produce a new modular product that GR Pro will market. The technology developed for this will also be used in other products.
Our partnership with ESO gives us access to a large and modern Outreach Department from which we will reach an international audience. 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
- University of Warwick (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Chile (Collaboration)
- University of Geneva (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- German Aerospace Centre (DLR) (Collaboration)
- Andor Technology (Collaboration)
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Reefe M
(2022)
A Close-in Puffy Neptune with Hidden Friends: The Enigma of TOI 620
in The Astronomical Journal
Gill Samuel
(2020)
A long period (P = 61.8-d) M5V dwarf eclipsing a Sun-like star from TESS and NGTS
in arXiv e-prints
West R
(2020)
A long-period (P = 61.8 d) M5V dwarf eclipsing a Sun-like star from TESS and NGTS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Casewell S
(2018)
A low-mass eclipsing binary within the fully convective zone from the Next Generation Transit Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Günther M
(2017)
A new yield simulator for transiting planets and false positives: application to the Next Generation Transit Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Armstrong DJ
(2020)
A remnant planetary core in the hot-Neptune desert.
in Nature
Luque R
(2023)
A resonant sextuplet of sub-Neptunes transiting the bright star HD 110067
in Nature
Description | We successfully completed the construction and commissioning of an array of twelve optical telescopes at the Paranal site of the European Southern Observatory in Chile. These telescopes are used to search for and characterise transiting exoplanets. To date we have discovered more than 30 planets and contributed to the detection and characterisation of many more, including some with very long orbital periods. Our stand-out result is the planet NGTS-4b, which was the first Neptune-sized planet to be found in the so-called Neptunian desert (close to Sun-like stars). The NGTS telescopes are designed to detect exoplanets using very high photometric precision, and by combining data from multiple telescopes we have achieved space-like precision of 100 parts per million for bright stars. |
Exploitation Route | The NGTS telescopes continue to operate, with ongoing support from STFC. The telescopes are being used to discover new transiting planets, including those with long orbital periods and others around young stars. We are also making our data publicly available through the ESO data archive, with two data releases made to date (more than 5 TB of data). These data can be used to exoplanet searches and a wide range of stellar astrophysics, including the detection of stellar flares that can impact the habitability of exoplanets. |
Sectors | Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
URL | http://ngtransits.org |
Description | This project requires extremely precise measurements of the brightness of stars using digital cameras. We have worked closely with the UK manufacturer of our cameras to improve the stability of their cameras, and these improvements are being incorporated into their product line. The company is Andor Technology, based in Belfast, and now a subsidiary of Oxford Instruments. The CCD detectors used in these cameras are manufactured by another UK company e2v. |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Electronics,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Economic |
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 | STFC AGP 2013-2016 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Description | The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) project was used as a case study in the evaluation of the socio-economic impact of the UK subscription to the European Southern Observatory (ESO) |
Geographic Reach | Europe |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Impact | NGTS datasets have formed the basis of the training of several PhDs and postdoc researchers who have transfered into industry. Our ongoing collaboration with the UK scientific camera manufacturer, Andor (part of Oxford Instruments), has contributed to the economic competitiveness of their products. |
URL | https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/STFC-240222-SocioEconomicImpactEvaluationStudyUKSubs... |
Description | Discovering New Worlds with sCMOS Cameras |
Amount | £28,999 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/W005719/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2021 |
End | 03/2022 |
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 | 08/2022 |
End | 09/2026 |
Description | The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS): Operations 2019-2022 |
Amount | £538,923 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/S002642/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS): Operations 2022-2025 |
Amount | £615,090 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/W003163/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2022 |
End | 03/2025 |
Description | Warwick Astronomy & Astrophysics Consolidated Grant 2023-2026 |
Amount | £2,428,922 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/X001121/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2023 |
End | 03/2026 |
Description | Warwick investment in the NGTS project |
Amount | £370,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2009 |
End | 07/2015 |
Title | NGTS database at ESO Archive, First Data Release |
Description | Sky survey data from the STFC-funded NGTS project, where time-series photometric measurements have been made for millions of stars in the search for new exoplanets. The data are released publicly through the ESO data archive. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Academic impacts for the International astronomical community. Allowing new exoplanets to be found and stellar variability to be investigated. |
URL | https://archive.eso.org/cms/eso-archive-news/first-data-release-by-the-next-generation-transit-surve... |
Title | NGTS database at ESO Archive, Second Data Release |
Description | Sky survey data from the STFC-funded NGTS project, where time-series photometric measurements have been made for millions of stars in the search for new exoplanets. The data are released publicly through the ESO data archive. This is the second data release from the project. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Academic impacts for the International astronomical community. Allowing new exoplanets to be found and stellar variability to be investigated. |
URL | https://archive.eso.org/cms/eso-archive-news/second-data-release-of-the-next-generation-transit-surv... |
Title | TESS and NGTS LCs and RVs of NGTS-11 |
Description | VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomical Journal (AAS) with title 'NGTS-11 b (TOI-1847 b): a transiting warm Saturn recovered from a TESS single-transit event.' (bibcode: 2020ApJ...898L..11G) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/ApJ/898/L11 |
Title | TOI-178 six transiting planets |
Description | VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomy & Astrophysics with title 'Six transiting planets and a chain of Laplace resonances in TOI-178.' (bibcode: 2021A&A...649A..26L) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/649/A26 |
Title | The TESS-Keck Survey. II. RVs of TOI-561 |
Description | VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomical Journal (AAS) with title 'The TESS-Keck Survey. II. An ultra-short-period rocky planet and its siblings transiting the galactic thick-disk star TOI-561.' (bibcode: 2021AJ....161...56W) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/AJ/161/56 |
Title | Transit photometry of NGTS-14Ab |
Description | VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomy & Astrophysics with title 'NGTS-14Ab: a Neptune-sized transiting planet in the desert.' (bibcode: 2021A&A...646A.183S) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/646/A183 |
Title | Two long-period transiting exoplanets |
Description | VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomy & Astrophysics with title 'Two long-period transiting exoplanets on eccentric orbits: NGTS-20 b (TOI-5152 b) and TOI-5153 b.' (bibcode: 2022A&A...666A..46U) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/666/A46 |
Title | hot massive Jupiter NGTS-13b photometry |
Description | VizieR online Data Catalogue associated with article published in journal Astronomy & Astrophysics with title 'NGTS-13b: A hot 4.8 Jupiter-mass planet transiting a subgiant star.' (bibcode: 2021A&A...647A.180G) |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/647/A180 |
Description | CCD camera development and testing with Andor Technology |
Organisation | Andor Technology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We tested Andor CCD cameras on-sky at the NGTS telescope facility in Chile, which resulted in modifications to camera hardware and software to optimise performance for high-precision photometry. |
Collaborator Contribution | Andor provided lab space and engineering staff time to investigate issues identified in on-sky testing and make modifications to camera hardware and software. |
Impact | Modifications to camera hardware and software have been integrated into the Andor product line, making their CCD cameras more competitive in the market. |
Start Year | 2015 |
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 | BBC Midlands Today TV interview, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for BBC Midlands Today, about our NGTS telescope array and search for exoplanets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3U524KySJw |
Description | BBC website request to comment |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Asked by BBC website to comment on exoplanet news story. Quoted extensively in story. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-49855058 |
Description | German radio interview, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview on german radio regarding our NGTS telescopes and our search for new exoplanets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.dw.com/en/search-for-earth-like-planets/av-18200863 |
Description | Invited EWASS Talk on NGTS - Lyon, France |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited talk to EWASS. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://eas.unige.ch/EWASS2019/ |
Description | Invited Talks to companies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | General talk on Exoplanet missions to Astrium UK (Airbus) at Stevenage |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | Invited presentation on NGTS operations at SPECULOOS team meeting - Cambridge University 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to the SPECULOOS team meeting in Cambridge to present the various aspects of the operations mode for NGTS. SPECULOOS is a new Belgian/UK transiting exoplanet survey also located at Paranal which conducts complimentary science to NGTS. The SPECULOOS team wanted to learn from our experience running a robotic facility in Chile. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Keynote speech at Leicester Science HUB Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | This was the keynote speech to the 2016 Conference of the Leicester Science HUB, attended by science teacher from across Leicester. The Leicester Science HUB and Spokes is part if the EIP (Education improvement programme), originally formed to focus on the Core subjects to improve attainment in the City by funding CPD programmes for teachers and events for students. The Science HUB has twilight courses throughout the year and the main Conference in the Spring. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://letslearn.org.uk/tandS/hubs.php |
Description | NGTS-10b Press Release: Hot Planet |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | NGTS-10b Press release |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/18-hour_year_planet/ |
Description | National Astronomy Meeting 2016 - Schools Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Talk to School children at the NAM 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | National Astronomy Meeting 2016 Plenary |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Plenary at NAM 2015 on exoplanets |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Northampton Natural History Society, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on exoplanet science and our NGTS telescope array |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | PLATO Selection Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press release over the selection of PLATO as ESA M3 mission. Picked up by many organisations. Here is one from the telegraph. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/space/10700476/Britain-joins-new-hunt-for-E.T..html |
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 | Planetarium visit to Big Bang Fair at Leicester Grammar School - Feb 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We used out STFC-funded mobile planetarium to present our STFC-funded research on exoplanet detection and characterisation to a total audience of around 400 members of the general public at the Big Bang Science Fair held at Leicester Grammar School. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://nearme.thebigbangfair.co.uk/view/?eve_id=1970 |
Description | Poster presentation UK Exoplanet Meeting 2016 - Exeter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Presentation of the current status of the NGTS survey to the UK exoplanet community at our annual national conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://ukexom16.co.uk/docs/ukexom16-science-programme.pdf |
Description | Presenting new NGTS exoplanet discoveries and status of the survey - UK Exoplanet Meeting 2018 - Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I presented the status of the NGTS survey along with the 4 lastest exoplanet discoveries from the survey. This included the discovery of NGTS-4b; the shallowest ever transiting exoplanet discovered from the ground by a wide field survey. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://users.physics.ox.ac.uk/~pierrehumbert/ukexom2018/ |
Description | Press Release NGTS-4b: "Forbidden Planet" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | NGTS-4b Press Release |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/the_forbidden_planet/ |
Description | Press release announcing Planet Hunters NGTS citizen science project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press release announcing the launch of our Planet Hunters NGTS citizen science project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/researchers_call_for_armchair_astronomers_to_help_... |
Description | Press release announcing the NGTS discovery of a sub-Neptune sized exoplanet in the Neptunian desert |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release announcing the NGTS discovery of a sub-Neptune sized exoplanet in the Neptunian desert |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/the_forbidden_planet/ |
Description | Press release for NGTS first light, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We issued a press release announcing "first light" for our NGTS telescope array, which was widely covered. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1502/ |
Description | Press release on NGTS contribution to discovery of a resonant chain of 6 exoplanets in a single planetary system |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release on the NGTS transit detections contributing to the discovery of a resonant chain of 6 exoplanets in a single planetary system. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/rhythmic_six-exoplanet_system/ |
Description | Press release on pre-MS stellar flare |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release on a remarkably energetic stellar flare detected from a young star that is likely to influence the formation of planets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/baby_stars_fiery |
Description | Press release on the NGTS contribution to a Nature paper announcing the discovery of the exposed core of an evaporated exoplanet |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release on the NGTS contribution to a Nature paper announcing the discovery of the exposed core of an evaporated exoplanet |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/first_exposed_planetary/ |
Description | Press release on the NGTS discovery of a hot Jupiter with a year lasting only 18 hours |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release announcing the discovery with NGTS of a Jupiter-sized exoplanet with a year lasting only 18 hours. This is the Jupiter with the shortest orbital period yet found. Measurement of its orbital decay will provide sensitive test of tidal interaction theory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/18-hour_year_planet/ |
Description | Press release on the discovery of a long-period Saturn-sized exoplanet with NGTS and TESS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release on the discovery of a Saturn-sized exoplanet in a wide orbit, using a new technique based on NGTS recovery of a transit signal initially found as a single event with NASA TESS space telescope. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/lost_worlds_rediscovery/ |
Description | Press release on the discovery of the "monster planet" NGTS-1b |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release announcing the first exoplanet detected with the STFC-funded NGTS project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/monster_planet_discovery/ |
Description | Project overview and current status of the survey - European Southern Observatory - 2016 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented an overview of the NGTS project to the staff of the European Southern Observatory at Paranal. The NGTS facility is hosted there and the staff invited me to talk to them about the facility. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Project overview and current status of the survey - European Week of Astronomy and Space Science 2015 - Tenerife |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I presented a summary of the NGTS project, the scientific goals and the facility design which was chosen to meet the goals. I also gave an update on the installation and commissioning of the facility. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://eas.unige.ch/EWASS2015/ |
Description | Project overview and current status of the survey - National Astronomy Meeting 2016 - Nottingham |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I presented an overview of the NGTS facility and survey and gave an update on our recent progress. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://nam2016.org/ |
Description | Radio interview for BBC Cov and Warwickshire, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed about NGTS telescope array and our search for exoplanets |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Research seminars at multiple UK universities, 2007 on |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited research seminars to astronomy research groups across the UK, including Imperial College, Queen Mary University of London, Leicester, Leeds, Southampton, Warwick, Armagh, UCL, Exeter |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2013,2015 |
Description | STFC PHD Summer School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Subject talk at the 2015 PhD summer school for STFC students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Seminars to University Groups |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talks to the following departments: Warwick 20130921, Leicester 20131211, bristol 20140317, Keele 20140320, Cambridge 20140412 (ESP), Lancaster 20140430, Cambridge 20140612 (IOA), Imperial 20140618, QMUL 20140904, Birmingham 20150114, MSSL 20160421, RAL 20161201 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015,2016 |
Description | Stratford Astronomical Society, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on exoplanet science and out NGTS telescope array. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Talk at the 2016 Convention of the Federation of Astronomical Societies |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a talk on the NGTS project and my wider astronomical on exoplanets to the 2016 Convention of the Federation of Astronomical Societies. This is a national organisation that is supports and coordinates the activities of astronomical societies in the UK. The convention was hosted by the University of Birmingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://fedastro.org.uk/fas/convention/ |
Description | Talk at the Sherwood observatory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a talk on the NGTS project and my wider astronomical research on exoplanets to the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society at the Sherwood Observatory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://sherwood-observatory.org.uk |
Description | Talk to British Astronomical Association |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on STFC-funded exoplanet research to the British Astronomical Society Spring Meeting, Nottingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.britastro.org/nottingham2020 |
Description | Talk to Melton Astronomical Society - May 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on exoplanets to a local astronomical society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Talk to Nottingham Astronomical Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a talk on the NGTS project and my wider astronomical research on exoplanets to the Nottingham Astronomical Society hosted by the British Geological Survey. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Talk to Warwick Astronomy Society - Feb 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lecture and discussion on hunting for exoplanets with the NGTS facility and other instruments. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | http://warwickastrosoc.wordpress.com |
Description | Talk to Warwick Astrosoc - Nov 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Talk on the habitability of exoplanets to the Astronomy Society at the University of Warwick. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Tilton Womens' Institute, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on exoplanet science and our NGTS telescope array. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | University of Warwick Open Days, 2005 on |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Several hundred sixth form students and their parents (and the general public) attend each open day, which is held four times each year. My role is to give talks on our astronomy research and how this informs our undergraduate teaching. Usually these talks are to groups of about 100/day. On on occasion this was a talk to a group of 400. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016 |
Description | Video answering astronomy questions from school children |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Video presentation to school children answering their questions about astronomy research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Worcester Institute of Physics and Worcester Astronomical Society, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on exoplanet science and our NGTS telescope array to the general pubic. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
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 |