Sirius_Alpha Admin
Number of posts : 4320 Location : Earth Registration date : 2008-04-06
| Subject: Spitzer aimed at Gliese 876 d and Ups And b. 8th February 2009, 11:45 pm | |
| In the approved obserservations list in the GO-5 program: (link here, there's a lot of candy in that link, too.) - Quote :
Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #50440
Thermal Emission from the Super-Earth Orbiting GJ 876
Principal Investigator: Drake Deming Institution: NASA's Godddard Space Flight Center
Technical Contact: Drake Deming, NASA's Godddard Space Flight Center
Co-Investigators: Sara Seager, MIT
Science Category: extrasolar planets Observing Modes: IracMap Hours Approved: 32.9
Abstract: GJ 876d is a 7.5 Earth mass non-transiting super-Earth orbiting at 0.025 AU from its M4V host star. This system is a very near neighbor of the Sun, at only 5 pc distant, so the thermal flux from the planet will be maximized. We propose to detect the orbital phase variation of 8 micron thermal emission from the super-Earth mass planet GJ 876d during ~ 70% of the planet's 1.97 day period orbit. Our observations will rely on high precision photometry at 8 microns, focusing exclusively on this crucial capability that will disappear with the depletion of Spitzer's cryogen. We will detect this planet if it is a bare rock, or has only a thin atmosphere, for all plausible sizes and albedos. We will use a novel technical strategy that will "pre-flash" the IRAC detector to eliminate the time dependence of detector response. G-05 is the final Spitzer program before it runs out of its cryogenic coolant. Another program, aimed at Ups And b, with the goal of making a HD 189733 b style IR map. - Quote :
Spitzer Space Telescope - General Observer Proposal #50624
A detailed phase curve for upsilon Andromedae b
Principal Investigator: Bradley Hansen Institution: UCLA
Technical Contact: Bradley Hansen, UCLA
Co-Investigators: Joseph Harrington, University of Central Florida Drake Deming, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Kristen Menou, Columbia University Sara Seager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology James Cho, Queen Mary University of London
Science Category: extrasolar planets Observing Modes: MipsPhot Hours Approved: 38.5
Abstract: We propose an observation of the planet+star system upsilon Andromdae, with the aim of measuring an accurate phase curve for the closest planet in the system. Based on the radial velocity ephemeris and previous Spitzer pilot program, we tailor our program to address two principal scientific goals. The bulk of the observation consists of an extended observation to resolve and characterise the shape of the lightcurve near maximum brightness, with the goal of mapping the temperature distribution on the day-side face of the planet. In addition, we request several shorter exposures over the course of a single planetary orbital period, in order to accurately measure the amplitude of the phase variation and thereby constrain the day-night temperature contrast of the planet. Upsilon Andromedae b represents the archetype for a class of planet in which the high level of irradiation results in a hot day side and cold night side. This stands in contrast to another well characterised hot Jupiter system which seems to have little difference in day/night temperature contrast. By placing the archetypes of these two classes on an equal footing in terms of detail, our observations will help to elucidate and understand the difference in the two classes.
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