The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS): Operations 2019-2022
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) is a set of 12 identical telescopes situated at Paranal Observatory in Chile - one of the best astronomical sites in the world. NGTS monitors tens of thousands of bright stars at once in order to search for planets orbiting other worlds (exoplaents). These exoplanets are discovered by looking for small dips in the light from the star as the exoplanet passes in front of the star (called "transits"). The telescopes have been operational since 2016, and already have discovered numerous transiting exoplanets, including small exoplanets not previously detectable from ground-based telescopes.
In this proposal we request STFC funding to continue to operate the NGTS telescopes over the 2019-2022 period. This is a very exciting period to operate NGTS, as a new NASA spacecraft named "TESS" has been launched as will soon start surveying almost the entire sky for transiting exoplanets. TESS data will be publicly available, and can be used to find transiting exoplanet candidates that can then be confirmed and further characterised by NGTS. This will allow NGTS to discover planets around very bright stars and in longer period orbits than was previously possible. In addition to this, we will also be able to find young planets by conducting a new survey of open clusters.
NGTS data will also be useful for other research fields, such as the flaring events from star and the monitoring of planetary debris around white dwarfs.
In this proposal we request STFC funding to continue to operate the NGTS telescopes over the 2019-2022 period. This is a very exciting period to operate NGTS, as a new NASA spacecraft named "TESS" has been launched as will soon start surveying almost the entire sky for transiting exoplanets. TESS data will be publicly available, and can be used to find transiting exoplanet candidates that can then be confirmed and further characterised by NGTS. This will allow NGTS to discover planets around very bright stars and in longer period orbits than was previously possible. In addition to this, we will also be able to find young planets by conducting a new survey of open clusters.
NGTS data will also be useful for other research fields, such as the flaring events from star and the monitoring of planetary debris around white dwarfs.
Planned Impact
NGTS is a world leader in high precision photometry from CCD cameras. In order to achieve this we have worked closely with Andor Technology plc, the Belfast-based company that supplies the cameras for NGTS. Our testing and operation of Andor's cameras have led to significant improvements in the hardware and software of these cameras, and we forecast this to continue over the 2019-2022 period. In addition, we have began plans to proto-type a new infrared sensor with the NGTS set-up from the company Raptor Photonics, an off-shoot of Andor based in Belfast. This new sensor uses different technology from the previous CCD technology, and we will be one of the first users of the device requiring high precision measurement in low light level environments.
NGTS planet discoveries have been announced not only to the scientific community, but to the public at large via very successful press releases. An example of this was NGTS-1b, dubbed "the Monster Planet", that was picked up by the media in the UK and internationally in October last year.
The operation of NGTS, and the resulting exoplanet discoveries, help promote interest and awareness of astronomy and science in general. We maximise this impact by a series of school visits and public talks, engaging with over 3000 school students last year alone.
NGTS planet discoveries have been announced not only to the scientific community, but to the public at large via very successful press releases. An example of this was NGTS-1b, dubbed "the Monster Planet", that was picked up by the media in the UK and internationally in October last year.
The operation of NGTS, and the resulting exoplanet discoveries, help promote interest and awareness of astronomy and science in general. We maximise this impact by a series of school visits and public talks, engaging with over 3000 school students last year alone.
Organisations
- University of Warwick (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Geneva (Collaboration)
- The Open University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- University of Chile (Collaboration)
- KEELE UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of St Andrews (Collaboration)
- German Aerospace Centre (DLR) (Collaboration)
- Andor Technology (Collaboration)
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST (Collaboration)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
McCormac James
(2019)
NGTS-10b: The shortest period hot Jupiter yet discovered
in arXiv e-prints
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
Smith Alexis M. S.
(2020)
Shallow transit follow-up from NGTS: simultaneous observations of HD106315 with 11 identical telescopes
in arXiv e-prints
Smith A
(2020)
Shallow transit follow-up from N ext-Generation Transit Survey : Simultaneous observations of HD 106315 with 11 identical telescopes
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Nielsen L
(2020)
Three short-period Jupiters from TESS HIP 65Ab, TOI-157b, and TOI-169b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ulmer-Moll S
(2022)
Two long-period transiting exoplanets on eccentric orbits: NGTS-20 b (TOI-5152 b) and TOI-5153 b
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Grieves N
(2022)
An old warm Jupiter orbiting the metal-poor G-dwarf TOI-5542
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Grieves N
(2021)
NGTS-13b: a hot 4.8 Jupiter-mass planet transiting a subgiant star
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lillo-Box J
(2023)
TOI-969: a late-K dwarf with a hot mini-Neptune in the desert and an eccentric cold Jupiter
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Azevedo Silva T
(2022)
The HD 137496 system: A dense, hot super-Mercury and a cold Jupiter
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
| 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 | 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 | 09/2022 |
| End | 09/2026 |
| 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... |
| 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 | TFOP: TESS Follow-up Observing Program |
| Organisation | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is an all-sky survey mission that will discover thousands of exoplanets around nearby bright stars. The TESS Follow-up Observing Program (TFOP) fosters communication and coordination both within the TESS Science Team and with the community at large in order to minimize wasteful duplication of observations and analysis. We contribute both new and existing data and analyses to this effort. For those TESS Objects of Interest (TOIs) that we have already studied, our data and analyses prevent the wasteful pursuit of false positives and facilitate the rapid and accurate characterisation of exoplanets. For other TOIs, we contribute new data and apply our expertise in a targeted manner designed to maximise impact. Our NGTS facility is a significant player in the TFOP effort. The resolution of our NGTS cameras is a factor 4.2 better than the TESS cameras, so we are far less affected by stellar blending. Also, NGTS matches the precision of TESS at moderate stellar brightness and outperforms it for fainter stars. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The TESS Science Team produce a list of candidate exoplanets, or TOIs, along with their associated data and analyses. TFOP facilitates the worldwide collaborative effort to confirm and characterize those exoplanets through the provision of databases, web portals, regular online meetings and conferences. |
| Impact | The following publications have resulted from our membership of TFOP: 10.1038/s41550-020-1142-z 10.1051/0004-6361/201937179 10.1051/0004-6361/202037941 10.1051/0004-6361/202039767 10.1093/mnras/staa138 10.1093/mnras/staa197 10.1093/mnras/stab182 10.1093/mnras/stz3545 10.3847/1538-3881/ab775a 10.3847/1538-3881/ab9f95 10.3847/1538-3881/abba22 10.3847/1538-3881/abba3b 10.3847/1538-3881/abd73e 10.3847/2041-8213/ab7020 10.3847/2041-8213/ab9eb9 arXiv:2101.01726 |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | WASP Consortium |
| Organisation | Keele University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The WASP project searches for exoplanets around bright stars using the transit technique. Warwick hosts the WASP Data Centre, where data from telescopes in South Africa and La Palma are analysed. We play a leading role in the discovery and characterisation of planets discovered with WASP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Keele leads the operations and data reduction for the facility in South Africa. St Andews led development of the WASP data reduction pipeline. Leicester originally hosted the WASP Data Centre and purchased much of the computing equipment. Queen's Belfast led the development of the instrument design (although the Belfast PI Pollacco has since moved to Warwick). Geneva have contributed telescope time for confirmation of exoplanets. The Open University contributed CCD cameras and has led some WASP follow up observations. |
| Impact | WASP is the world-leading project for the discovery of giant transiting exoplanets. It has resulted in the publication hundreds of refereed journal articles, listed separately. |
| Description | WASP Consortium |
| Organisation | Open University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The WASP project searches for exoplanets around bright stars using the transit technique. Warwick hosts the WASP Data Centre, where data from telescopes in South Africa and La Palma are analysed. We play a leading role in the discovery and characterisation of planets discovered with WASP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Keele leads the operations and data reduction for the facility in South Africa. St Andews led development of the WASP data reduction pipeline. Leicester originally hosted the WASP Data Centre and purchased much of the computing equipment. Queen's Belfast led the development of the instrument design (although the Belfast PI Pollacco has since moved to Warwick). Geneva have contributed telescope time for confirmation of exoplanets. The Open University contributed CCD cameras and has led some WASP follow up observations. |
| Impact | WASP is the world-leading project for the discovery of giant transiting exoplanets. It has resulted in the publication hundreds of refereed journal articles, listed separately. |
| Description | WASP Consortium |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The WASP project searches for exoplanets around bright stars using the transit technique. Warwick hosts the WASP Data Centre, where data from telescopes in South Africa and La Palma are analysed. We play a leading role in the discovery and characterisation of planets discovered with WASP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Keele leads the operations and data reduction for the facility in South Africa. St Andews led development of the WASP data reduction pipeline. Leicester originally hosted the WASP Data Centre and purchased much of the computing equipment. Queen's Belfast led the development of the instrument design (although the Belfast PI Pollacco has since moved to Warwick). Geneva have contributed telescope time for confirmation of exoplanets. The Open University contributed CCD cameras and has led some WASP follow up observations. |
| Impact | WASP is the world-leading project for the discovery of giant transiting exoplanets. It has resulted in the publication hundreds of refereed journal articles, listed separately. |
| Description | WASP Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Geneva |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The WASP project searches for exoplanets around bright stars using the transit technique. Warwick hosts the WASP Data Centre, where data from telescopes in South Africa and La Palma are analysed. We play a leading role in the discovery and characterisation of planets discovered with WASP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Keele leads the operations and data reduction for the facility in South Africa. St Andews led development of the WASP data reduction pipeline. Leicester originally hosted the WASP Data Centre and purchased much of the computing equipment. Queen's Belfast led the development of the instrument design (although the Belfast PI Pollacco has since moved to Warwick). Geneva have contributed telescope time for confirmation of exoplanets. The Open University contributed CCD cameras and has led some WASP follow up observations. |
| Impact | WASP is the world-leading project for the discovery of giant transiting exoplanets. It has resulted in the publication hundreds of refereed journal articles, listed separately. |
| Description | WASP Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The WASP project searches for exoplanets around bright stars using the transit technique. Warwick hosts the WASP Data Centre, where data from telescopes in South Africa and La Palma are analysed. We play a leading role in the discovery and characterisation of planets discovered with WASP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Keele leads the operations and data reduction for the facility in South Africa. St Andews led development of the WASP data reduction pipeline. Leicester originally hosted the WASP Data Centre and purchased much of the computing equipment. Queen's Belfast led the development of the instrument design (although the Belfast PI Pollacco has since moved to Warwick). Geneva have contributed telescope time for confirmation of exoplanets. The Open University contributed CCD cameras and has led some WASP follow up observations. |
| Impact | WASP is the world-leading project for the discovery of giant transiting exoplanets. It has resulted in the publication hundreds of refereed journal articles, listed separately. |
| Description | WASP Consortium |
| Organisation | University of St Andrews |
| Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The WASP project searches for exoplanets around bright stars using the transit technique. Warwick hosts the WASP Data Centre, where data from telescopes in South Africa and La Palma are analysed. We play a leading role in the discovery and characterisation of planets discovered with WASP. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Keele leads the operations and data reduction for the facility in South Africa. St Andews led development of the WASP data reduction pipeline. Leicester originally hosted the WASP Data Centre and purchased much of the computing equipment. Queen's Belfast led the development of the instrument design (although the Belfast PI Pollacco has since moved to Warwick). Geneva have contributed telescope time for confirmation of exoplanets. The Open University contributed CCD cameras and has led some WASP follow up observations. |
| Impact | WASP is the world-leading project for the discovery of giant transiting exoplanets. It has resulted in the publication hundreds of refereed journal articles, listed separately. |
| 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 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 | 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 | 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 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 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 | 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 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 | 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 | 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 |