Feasibility-study for space-based transit photometry using mid-sized nanosatellites

The photometric precision needed to measure a transit of small planets cannot be achieved by taking observations from the ground, so observations must be made from space. Mid-sized nanosatellites can provide a low-cost option for building an optical system to take these observations. The potential of using nanosatellites of varying sizes to perform transit measurements was evaluated using a theoretical noise budget, simulated exoplanet-transit data, and case studies to determine the expected results of a radial velocity followup mission and transit survey mission. Optical systems on larger mid-sized nanosatellites (such as ESPA satellites) have greater potential than smaller mid-sized nanosatellites (such as CubeSats) to detect smaller planets, detect planets around dimmer stars, and discover more transits in RV followup missions.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Bowens-Rubin, Rachel (Rachel A.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Sara Seager.

• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/77872

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/77872