lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14
DESCRIPTION
Kepler Space Telescope Mission Update_20 June 2014_Little Thompson Observatory_Berthoud COTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Kepler Space Telescope: New Mission and New Worlds
Suzanne Metlay, Ph.D.
Western Governors University
Little Thompson Observatory
20 June 2014
![Page 2: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Initial Mission: Kepler Field of View
![Page 3: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Initial Mission: Highlights
Slightly larger orbit than Earth’s = Longer orbital period (372 days) = Kepler telescope falls behind Earth over time
Colorado creation: Built by Ball Aerospace Launched by United Launch Alliance (2009) Operated by LASPPhotometer = Sole instrument = Largest camera Look OUTSIDE ecliptic plane Seasonal scheduleExoplanet discoveries began immediately “Hot Jupiters” first Smaller objects around cooler stars laterReaction wheel failures end mission (2013) Pointing capability permanently damaged
![Page 4: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
K2 Mission ProposalK2 mission = Look WITHIN ecliptic plane
Look beyond Milky Way Galaxy
Look at stars as well as exoplanets
Identify targets for other telescopes and spectroscopes
K2 approved and running: May 2014
![Page 5: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Exoplanet Detection Techniques Wobble Radial velocity (Doppler Effect) Lightcurves = Direct transit Validation by multiplicity
o Multiple lightcurves imply multiple exoplanets
Direct Observation
Doppler Effect
Wobble
Lightcurve
![Page 6: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
LightcurvesAt least 3 transit observations required to confirm discovery Planets do not emit light; only stars do
Binary eclipses = 1 star blocks the light of another star
![Page 7: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
PlanetHunters.org
Y-axis = Star Luminosity Star variability
X-axis = ExoplanetOrbital Period Depth = Exoplanet diameter Frequency = Distance from star Sunspots will not dim star regularly Watch out for eclipsing binaries!
Gaps = times when Kepler telescope was turned off or pointed away
![Page 8: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Habitability
![Page 9: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Habitable Zones
![Page 10: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
New Type of Exoplanet DiscoveredRocky planets (or dwarf planets) = Terrestrial = Earth-like structure Metal core, rocky mantle, rocky crust, gas atmosphere Dwarf planet Ceres = 0.00015 Earth mass (rocky core, water/ice mantle, rock crust, thin atm)
Gas Dwarf planets = 1.7 to 3.9 times the mass of Earth Rocky core (small), rock/ice mantle, thick gas atmosphere 600 exoplanet candidates
Gas Giant planets = Jovian = Jupiter-like structure Rocky core (size of Earth), liquid/ice mantle, thick gas atmosphere Uranus = 14.5 Earth mass
![Page 11: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
SETILIVE.org
![Page 12: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
M Dwarf stars
![Page 13: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Kepler 186f
Habitable zone = Liquid water can exist on surface No evidence there is any liquid water No data about atmosphere No way (yet) to determine actual surface conditions
![Page 15: Lto kepler mission_metlay_20june14](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022042614/5595feba1a28ab9e308b45fe/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Reference ListAmos, J. (2014). “Kepler telescope bags huge haul of planets” retrieved from Science and Environment, BBC News website at http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-26362433
“Digital press kit – Kepler-186f: The First Earth-size Habitable Zone Planet of Another Star” (2014). Retrieved from NASA website at www.nasa.gov/ames/kepler/digital-press-kit-kepler-186f-an-earth-size-habitable-zone-planet
Fischer, D. (2010). “Eclipsing Binaries” retrieved from Zooniverse project blog, PlanetHunters website at http://blog.planethunters.org/2010/12/21/eclipsing-binaries/?lang=en
Fischer, D. (2010). “Variable Stars (Examples)” retrieved from Zooniverse project blog, PlanetHunters website athttp://blog.planethunters.org/2010/12/28/variable-stars-examples/?lang=en
Greenbaum, A. (2011). “How to Build a Successful Science Comic”. Retrieved from Science for Dessert website at http://macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/sciencefordessert/2011/01/17/guest-entry-how-to-build-a-comic
Harvard-Smithonian Center for Astrophysics (2014). “Neapolitan Exoplanets Come in Three Flavors”. Retrieved from Astronomy Magazine website at http://www.astronomy.com/news/2014/06/neapolitan-exoplanets-come-in-three-flavors
“K2: Extending Kepler’s Power to the Ecliptic” (2014). Retrieved from NASA website at http://keplerscience.arc.nasa.gov/K2/
“Kepler’s Five New Worlds” (2010). Retrieved from Latest News, EnjoySpace website at http://www.enjoyspace.com/en/news/kepler-s-five-new-worlds
“Kepler Mission Manager Update: K2 has been Approved” (2014). Retrieved from NASA website at http://www.nasa.gov/content/ames/kepler-mission-manager-update-k2-has-been-approved/
Lintott, C. (2010). “Tutorial” retrieved from PlanetHunters website at http://www.planethunters.org/tutorial
Meadows, V. (2014). “Summary” slide retrieved from NASA press conference presentation at http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Kepler186_FINAL-Apr2014.pdf
“Quick Facts: Kepler – More Info” (n.d.) Retrieved from Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado at Boulder website at http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/missions-projects/quick-facts-kepler/more-info/
Quintana, E. (2014). “Kepler 186f - First Earth-sized Planet Orbiting in Habitable Zone of Another Star” retrieved from SETI Institute website athttp://www.seti.org/seti-institute/kepler-186f-first-earth-sized-planet-orbiting-in-habitable-zone-of-another-star
Roell, T. (2010). “Astrometric Search for Exoplanets in Stellar Multiple Systems” retrieved from Astrophysical Institute and University Observatory Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena website at http://www.astro.uni-jena.de/Users/troell/astrometry.htm
SETILIVE (n.d.) Homepage screenshot retrieved from SETILIVE.org website at http://setilive.org/
Stenzel, W. & NASA Ames (2014). “Kepler’s Second Light: How K2 Will Work” retrieved from NASA website at www.nasa.gov/kepler/keplers-second-light-how-k2-will-work