http://arxiv.org/abs/1509.01238
This paper describes a simple activity for plotting and characterizing the light curve from an exoplanet transit event by way of differential photometry analysis. Using free digital imaging software, participants analyse a series of telescope images with the goal of calculating various exoplanet parameters, including its size, orbital radius and habitability. The activity has been designed for a high school or undergraduate university level and introduces fundamental concepts in astrophysics and an understanding of the basis for exoplanetary science, the transit method and digital photometry.
M. Cowley and S. Hughes
Fri, 4 Sep 15
22/58
Comments: 8 pages, 7 figures, published in Phys. Educ