MRI: Acquisition of a 3-Station Global Network of Automated Telescopes to Detect a Large Number of Nearby Transiting Extra-solar Planets

这项研究涉及在南半球获取一个全自动中宽场望远镜的纵向空间全球网络，主要目的是探测凌日星等范围为9.5-13.5的恒星的系外行星。该项目建立在非常成功的北半球版本的系统的基础上，并以此为蓝本。据统计，该系统预计每年将发现约25颗系外行星。将在纳米比亚、智利和澳大利亚建立三个望远镜站点，允许全天候监测光曲线。这项工作将涉及与纳米比亚遗址的马克斯·普朗克天文研究所、澳大利亚锡丁泉遗址的澳大利亚国立大学以及智利的拉斯坎帕纳斯天文台建立伙伴关系。发现太阳系外的行星是天文学家和公众都非常感兴趣的话题。这项工作产生的数据产品还将形成一个广泛的恒星可变性数据目录。

This research involves the acquisition of a longitudinally-spaced global network of fully automated medium-wide field telescopes in the southern hemisphere, with the primary purpose of detecting exoplanets transiting stars in the magnitude range 9.5 - 13.5. This project builds on, and is modeled after, the very successful northern hemisphere version of the system. Statistically, approximately 25 exoplanets per year are expected to be discovered with this system. Three telescope sites would be built, in Namibia, Chile, and Australia, allowing round-the-clock monitoring of light curves. The work will involve partnerships with the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy at the Namibian site; the Australian National University at the Siding Spring, Australia, site; and with Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. The discovery of planets beyond our own solar system is a topic of intense interest to both astronomers and the general public. The data products resulting from this work will also form an extensive catalog of stellar variability data.