Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Feb 1994
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994ap%26ss.212..433p&link_type=abstract
Astrophysics and Space Science, vol. 212, nos. 1-2, p. 433-440
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
4
Astrometry, Extrasolar Planets, Planetary Systems, Satellite-Borne Instruments, Spaceborne Telescopes, Spacecraft Design, Astronomical Photometry, Charge Coupled Devices, Coronagraphs, Detection, Photometers
Scientific paper
The Astrometric Imaging Telescope (AIT) is a proposed spaceborne observatory whose primary goal is the detecton and study of extra-solar planetary systems. It contains two instruments that use complementary techniques to address the goal. The first instrument, the Coronagraphic Imager, takes direct images of nearby stars and Jupiter-size planets. It uses a telescope with scattering-compensated optics and a high-efficiency coronagraph to separate reflected planet light from the central star light. Planet detections take hours; confirmations occur in months. With a program duration of about 2 years, about 50 stars are observed. The second instrument, the Astrometric Photometer, shares the same telescope and focal plane. It uses a Ronchi ruling that is translated across the focal plane to simultaneously measure the positions of each target star and about 25 reference stars with sufficient accuracy to detect Uranus-mass planets around hundreds of stars. Enough stars of several spectral types are observed to obtain a statistically significant measurement of the prevalence of planetary systems. This observing program takes about 10 years to complete. The combination of both instruments in a single telescope system results from a number of innovative solutions that are described in this paper.
Ftaclas Christ
Gatewood George D.
Levy Eugene H.
Pravdo Steven Howard
Terrile Richard J.
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