Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jan 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011aas...21740001a&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #217, #400.01; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, 2011
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
I review several novel approaches to exoplanet detection and characterization, including transit-timing variations (TTV), exoplanet mapping using phase variations and eclipses, and chromospheric transits. TTV may be used to characterize multi-planet systems by measuring deviations from periodicity of a transiting planet due to the gravitational pull of companion planets. As of September 2010, one example of a system with TTV has been found by the Kepler satellite, probably the first of many. In principle TTV may be used to discover companion planets, which has failed to date with ground-based telescopes, but will likely occur with Kepler. Infrared phase variations measured with Spitzer have been used to characterize the climate of hot Jupiters and to make longitudinal maps, constraining atmospheric circulation models. I will present the first eclipse map of a hot Jupiter based on Spitzer, which may be a taste of what will be done with JWST. Chromospheric transits of optically-thin emission lines should show a dip at each limb. These will have low signal-to-noise, but might be used to discover giant planets orbiting sub-giant stars. Finally, I will look well into the future towards studying planets in their habitable zones. Observations of Earth with the EPOXI satellite show that phase variations may be used to make longitudinal maps of habitable planets with continents and oceans, even in the presence of variable cloud cover. Such observations might be carried with future large space-based occulting or coronagraphic telescopes. I will conclude with some more speculative ideas on the future of planet detection and characterization.
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