The EPOXI/EPOCh Investigation of Transiting Extrasolar Planets

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

The Extrasolar Planet Observation and Characterization (EPOCh) investigation is a component of the EPOXI mission. EPOCh used the CCD detector on the Deep Impact spacecraft to perform high precision visible light photometry of six bright transiting planet systems. The observations were acquired in Jan-Aug 2008, during the cruise to comet Hartley-2. EPOCh is searching for reflected light or visible thermal emission from the giant transiting planets at secondary eclipse, and for the signatures of rings and moons. EPOCh is also sensitive to terrestrial planets in these systems, using two detection methods. First, we are searching for direct transit events caused by approximately Earth-sized planets, particularly "hot Earths" that are predicted to be captured in low order mean motion resonances with the giant planets. Second, we are making transit timing measurements for the giant planets, to search for variations due to terrestrial planet perturbers. EPOCh also observed our Earth over a complete rotation at three well-spaced epochs, obtaining narrow band photometry from 350 to 950 nm, and 2 -5 micron infrared spectroscopy. These observations will characterize Earth's properties as an astronomical object, so as to support future extrasolar terrestrial planet imaging missions.

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