Red-enhanced cameras to seek rocky planets transiting Ultra-Cool Dwarfs

该项目将为三台望远镜提供必要的仪器。其中两个望远镜将作为SPECULOOS项目的一部分在西班牙特内里费岛建造，而第三个已经存在，位于南极洲，称为ASTEP。这些望远镜有几个研究主题是可能的，但我们将使用望远镜的绝大多数时间来观察超冷矮星。这些天体的质量小于太阳的15%。它们的小尺寸意味着更容易探测到像地球一样小的行星，绕着它们运行。我们的目标是探测地球大小的行星，因为它们在其宿主星星前面过境。这样做，它们隐藏了恒星表面的一小部分，我们可以检测到亮度的下降。一个例子是著名的TRAPPIST-1系统，我们检测到作为试点项目的一部分。在那颗星星周围，我们发现了七颗温带行星，它们的性质与太阳系的许多行星相似。TRAPPIST-1已经成为我们开始寻找太阳系外生命证据的最佳行星集合。该项目旨在发现更多像TRAPPIST-1这样的行星系统。探测十几个这样的系统将增强我们对行星形成的理解，并帮助我们了解地球在自然界的许多结果中所处的位置。我们寻找围绕超冷恒星而不是像太阳这样的恒星运行的行星的原因是因为超冷恒星和围绕它们运行的行星具有非常有利的特性。值得注意的是，以详细的方式研究这些世界更容易。特别是，我们将能够使用即将到来的最先进的设施收集有关其大气化学成分的数据。我们预计会探测到几十颗地球大小的行星。对这些世界的大气调查将揭示陆地世界的气候类型，显示它们是否与地球和金星相似或不同。这些数据还可以提供评估表面可居住性的经验手段。最终，我们还可以找到生物活跃的化学证据，并找出宇宙中生命出现的频率和条件。超冷矮星在红波长处最亮，需要对红波长同样敏感的仪器。我们已经确定并测试了这样一种工具，它产生了高质量的数据。由于我们正在将我们拥有的望远镜数量扩大到北方，我们也希望为它们配备同样的高性能相机。此次申请资金的目的是购买三台这样的相机。其中两颗将参与SPECULOOS项目，探测太阳附近围绕超冷矮星运行的新地球。第三台相机将安装在南极洲最高海拔之一的现有望远镜上，并受益于持续数月的夜晚，这对于确认SPECULOOS确定的行星系统特别方便。

This project will provide essential instruments to three telescopes. Two of these telescopes will be constructed in Tenerife, Spain as part of the SPECULOOS project, while the third already exists, in Antarctica, and is called ASTEP. Several research themes are possible with these telescopes, but we will use the vast majority of the telescopes' time to observe ultra-cool dwarfs. These are objects with masses less than 15% of the Sun's. Their small size means that it is easier to detect planets as small as the Earth, that orbit them. We aim to detect Earth-size planets as they transit in front of their host star. Doing so they hide a fraction of the stellar surface, which we can detect as a drop in brightness. An example is the renown TRAPPIST-1 system that we detected as part of a pilot project. Around that star, we identified seven temperate planets with properties similar to many our Solar system's planets. TRAPPIST-1 has become the most optimal set of planets for which we initiate the search for evidence of life beyond the Solar system. This project aims to discover more planetary systems like TRAPPIST-1. Detecting a dozen such systems will enhance our understanding of planet formation, and help inform us about where our Earth stands within the many outcomes of Nature. The reason we seek planets orbiting ultra-cool stars, rather than stars like the Sun is because ultra-cool stars, and the planets orbiting them have very advantageous properties. Notably it is easier to study these worlds in detailed manners. Particularly, we will be able to collect data about the chemical composition of their atmosphere using upcoming state-of-the-art facilities. We expect to detect a few dozen Earth-size planets. Atmospheric investigations of these worlds will reveal the types of climates that terrestrial worlds have, showing whether they are similar or different to Earth and Venus. Such data may also provide empirical means of assessing surface habitability. Eventually, it will also be possible to seek chemical evidence that biology is active, and find out how frequently life emerges in the Universe, and under which conditions it does so.Ultra-cool dwarfs are brightest in redder wavelengths, requiring instrumentation that is particularly sensitive to the same redder wavelengths. We have identified and already tested such an instrument, which produced data of a remarkable quality. As we are expanding the number of telescope in our possession, to the Northern hemisphere, we also wish to equip them with the same highly-performant cameras. The goal of this request for funds is to purchase three such cameras. Two will participate in the SPECULOOS project, detecting new Earths orbiting ultra-cool dwarfs within the Solar neighbourhood. The third camera will be mounted on an existing telescope built at one of the highest altitudes of Antarctica, and benefitting from nights lasting months, which is particularly convenient to confirm planetary systems such as those identified with SPECULOOS.