Comments on: Needle in a haystack? http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/ The Universe as seen from the perspective of an astronomical researcher, presenter and writer. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:29:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Chris Lintott’s Universe » WASPy planets http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-22026 Chris Lintott’s Universe » WASPy planets Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:23:57 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-22026 [...] Excellent news! I’ve written before about SuperWASP’s planet search, and I’m pleased to say that they’ve just announced their second round of successes. Three new planets are announced today, detected by the small dip in their parent stars’ brightness as the planet passes in front of it. WASP-3 was discovered by the first set of cameras, on the island of La Palma in the Canaries, but WASP-4 and WASP-5 are the first discoveries from the new station in South Africa. These are fairly typical ‘hot Jupiters’, large planets extremely close to their parent stars. As I’ve said before, WASP is based on a brilliantly simple idea and is an extremely ambitious, but low budget, project and I’m really happy it’s continuing to get new results. [...] [...] Excellent news! I’ve written before about SuperWASP’s planet search, and I’m pleased to say that they’ve just announced their second round of successes. Three new planets are announced today, detected by the small dip in their parent stars’ brightness as the planet passes in front of it. WASP-3 was discovered by the first set of cameras, on the island of La Palma in the Canaries, but WASP-4 and WASP-5 are the first discoveries from the new station in South Africa. These are fairly typical ‘hot Jupiters’, large planets extremely close to their parent stars. As I’ve said before, WASP is based on a brilliantly simple idea and is an extremely ambitious, but low budget, project and I’m really happy it’s continuing to get new results. [...]

]]> By: Andy Lawrence http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-17214 Andy Lawrence Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:50:48 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-17214 Chris - I just listened to Don Pollacco presenting this material at a talk at the JENAM conference. Actually they are finding fewer candidates than they expected and believe their filtering is too harsh .. so there are more to come ! Chris - I just listened to Don Pollacco presenting this material at a talk at the JENAM conference. Actually they are finding fewer candidates than they expected and believe their filtering is too harsh .. so there are more to come !

]]> By: Nick Cross http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-16828 Nick Cross Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:06:38 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-16828 The calibration is also a huge job, especially with such a large field of view. The point spread function will get distorted significantly towards the edges. To get significant numbers of transits, you have to have reliable photometry where the systematic errors are a few millimagnitudes at most. Only then can you start searching for your needles. The calibration is also a huge job, especially with such a large field of view. The point spread function will get distorted significantly towards the edges. To get significant numbers of transits, you have to have reliable photometry where the systematic errors are a few millimagnitudes at most. Only then can you start searching for your needles.

]]> By: Robin http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-16797 Robin Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:03:50 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-16797 Once the "small matter" of identifying the planets from all the possibles is complete, it is fascinating to see just how obvious these transiting planets are. Detection of most of the ones discovered to date are within reach of modestly equipped amateurs. One rival group of transit hunters (XO) is using a group of experienced amateurs to help sift the wheat from the chaff and I gather the SuperWASP team are considering a similar approach. Robin Once the “small matter” of identifying the planets from all the possibles is complete, it is fascinating to see just how obvious these transiting planets are. Detection of most of the ones discovered to date are within reach of modestly equipped amateurs. One rival group of transit hunters (XO) is using a group of experienced amateurs to help sift the wheat from the chaff and I gather the SuperWASP team are considering a similar approach.

Robin

]]> By: Robert Simpson http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-16774 Robert Simpson Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:11:07 +0000 http://chrislintott.net/2007/08/07/needle-in-a-haystack/#comment-16774 I never realised it was so tenuous. Well done them! It is a great project, isn't it? I really love the idea and of course the name. "Well its better than WASP..." "What about SuperWASP, boss?" "You sir, are a genius!" I never realised it was so tenuous. Well done them! It is a great project, isn’t it? I really love the idea and of course the name.

“Well its better than WASP…”
“What about SuperWASP, boss?”
“You sir, are a genius!”

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