Discovering further transiting extrasolar planets with HATNet

Gaspar Bakos博士被授予美国国家科学基金会天文学和天体物理学博士后奖学金，在哈佛-史密森天体物理学中心开展研究和教育项目。利用他开发的HATNet自动小型望远镜系统，巴克斯博士将通过持续的观测、后续光度测定和光谱学以及对现有HATNet数据的分析，寻找围绕明亮恒星运行的太阳系外行星。由于网络操作和对选定区域的长时间覆盖对于增加行星探测的机会极为重要，巴克斯博士还将安排或扩大HAT网络，在莫纳克亚山站点安装一台额外的望远镜，并寻求在东经地区建立第三个站点。在HATNet数据的基础上，Bakos博士还将开发一个变星数据库，分发给天文社区，并为公众提供一个关于一般明亮变星的互动界面和基于网络的论坛，允许用户浏览变星，发表评论，上传数据并计划使用自己的望远镜进行后续观测。

Dr. Gaspar Bakos is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Using the HATNet automated small-telescope system that he developed, Dr. Bakos will search for transiting extrasolar planets around bright stars with continued observations, follow-up photometry and spectroscopy, and analysis of existing HATNet data. Because networked operations and extended time coverage of selected fields is extremely important for increasing the chances of planet detection, Dr. Bakos will also arrange or expand the HAT network to install an additional telescope at the Mauna Kea site and seek to establish a third site among eastern longitudes.Based on HATNet data, Dr. Bakos will also develop a variability database for distribution to the astronomical community as well as an interactive interface and web-based forum on general bright variable stars for the general public that will allow users to browse variable stars, leave comments, upload data and plan follow-up observations with their own telescopes.