Ground-based search for the brightest transiting planets with the Multi-site All-Sky CAmeRA: MASCARA
Ground-based search for the brightest transiting planets with the Multi-site All-Sky CAmeRA: MASCARA
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使用多站点全天相机 MASCARA 地面搜索最亮的凌日行星
DOI：
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发表时间：
2012
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
R. L. le Poole
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
I. Snellen;R. Stuik;R. Navarro;F. Bettonvil;M. Kenworthy;E. de Mooij;G. Otten;R. ter Horst;R. L. le Poole
多站点全天空MASCARA相机是一种仪器概念，由遍布地球仪的几个站点组成，每个站点包含一组低成本相机，用于监测每个位置的几乎整个天空。一旦所有的观测站都安装好，MASCARA将能够以亚分钟的节奏提供近24小时的全黑天空覆盖范围，低至8级。它的目的是寻找最明亮的凌日系外行星系统，预计在V=4-8等范围内-目前还没有通过空间或地面调查进行探测。MASCARA将发现的明亮/附近的凌日行星系统将成为详细行星大气观测的关键目标。我们目前的研究MASCARA站的初步设计，包括摄像机的外壳，圆顶，和计算机设备，和低成本的摄像机的光度稳定性表明，每小时0.3-1%的精度可以很容易地实现。我们计划在2013年底前推出第一个MASCARA站。一个5站MASCARA可以在两年内发现天空中最亮的十几个过境行星系统。
The Multi-site All-sky CAmeRA MASCARA is an instrument concept consisting of several stations across the globe, with each station containing a battery of low-cost cameras to monitor the near-entire sky at each location. Once all stations have been installed, MASCARA will be able to provide a nearly 24-hr coverage of the complete dark sky, down to magnitude 8, at sub-minute cadence. Its purpose is to find the brightest transiting exoplanet systems, expected in the V=4-8 magnitude range - currently not probed by space- or ground-based surveys. The bright/nearby transiting planet systems, which MASCARA will discover, will be the key targets for detailed planet atmosphere observations. We present studies on the initial design of a MASCARA station, including the camera housing, domes, and computer equipment, and on the photometric stability of low-cost cameras showing that a precision of 0.3-1% per hour can be readily achieved. We plan to roll out the first MASCARA station before the end of 2013. A 5-station MASCARA can within two years discover up to a dozen of the brightest transiting planet systems in the sky.