[FPSPACE] CoRoT and the search for exoplanets. The Italian contribution

[LARRY KLAES]

Astrophysics, abstract
astro-ph/0610459

From: Ennio Poretti [view email]

Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 11:04:57 GMT   (1371kb)

CoRoT and the search for exoplanets. The Italian contribution

Authors: E. Poretti (INAF-OA Brera), A.F. Lanza (INAF-OA Catania), C. 
Maceroni (INAF-OA Roma), I. Pagano (INAF-OA Catania), V. Ripepi (INAF-OA 
Capodimonte)

Comments: Invited contribution to "VII Convegno Nazionale Scienze 
Planetarie", S. Felice Circeo, 5-9 September 2006. To be published in the 
Proceedings (Eds. M.T. Capria et al.) of the "Memorie della Societa' 
Astronomica Italiana"

The space mission CoRoT (COnvection, ROtation and planetary Transits) will 
offer the possibility to detect extrasolar planets by means of the transit 
method. The satellite will observe about 60000 targets in the range 
11.0<V<16.0, located in five fields near the equator. The parts of the 
preparatory work in which the Italian community has been involved are 
described, with a particular emphasis on the observations to characterize 
the fields, on the effects of stellar activity and background stars and on 
the outreach activities. We performed a quantitative evaluation of 
instrumental and stellar effects in the planetary transit detection and a 
more careful evaluation of the stellar content of some specific stellar 
fields. Also considering the full spectroscopic characterisation of the 
targets and the precise photometric evaluation of the stellar variability in 
the CoRoT fields, the Italian researchers provided original and useful 
inputs to the scientific profile to the mission.

http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0610459