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Observations and Light Curve Analysis of Transiting Extra-Solar Planets Stephen F. Austin State University SFA ScholarWorks Electronic Theses and Dissertations Winter 12-17-2016 Observations and Light Curve Analysis of Transiting Extra-Solar Planets Clark M. Holcomb Stephen F Austin State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds Part of the Other Astrophysics and Astronomy Commons Tell us how this article helped you. Repository Citation Holcomb, Clark M., "Observations and Light Curve Analysis of Transiting Extra-Solar Planets" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 52. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/52 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Observations and Light Curve Analysis of Transiting Extra-Solar Planets Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This thesis is available at SFA ScholarWorks: https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/52 Observations and Light Curve Analysis of Transiting Extra-Solar Planets by Clark M. Holcomb, B.S. Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Stephen F. Austin State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY December 2016 Observations and Light Curve Analysis of Transiting Extra-Solar Planets By Clark M. Holcomb, B.S. APPROVED: ________________________________________ Dr. W. D. Bruton, Thesis Director ________________________________________ Dr. N. L. Markworth, Committee Member ________________________________________ Dr. H. D. Downing, Committee Member ________________________________________ Dr. R. B. Friedfeld, Committee Member _________________________________ Richard Berry, D.M.A Dean of the Graduate School ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to perform the procedures to study transiting exoplanets in their entirety, from the data collection process to determining physical characteristics and orbital properties. The research was conducted with two telescopes of different sizes (16” and 12”) at multiple sites in order to refine the detection process. Both Maxim DL and Mira Pro x64 software were used to process the resulting images. The PHOEBE program was used to model the data to determine the properties of the exoplanets, which were then compared to the results obtained by other astronomers. The data collection process as well as the modeling successfully yielded results that were in agreement with the comparison values. i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance in this research project: Dr. Bruton, my thesis advisor, who spent many nights assisting me with the telescopes and equipment and Mr. Michaels, who spent time with me discussing imaging techniques, assisting with observations, and especially for allowing me to use his observatory and equipment. I would not have been able to complete this research without their help and support. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1 Objectives ................................................................................................. 2 Methods of Measurement .......................................................................... 2 Literature Review .................................................................................... 12 Justification ............................................................................................. 18 CHAPTER TWO: DATA COLLECTION .............................................................. 19 Selection of Targets ................................................................................ 19 Telescopes and Observatories ................................................................ 19 CCD Cameras ......................................................................................... 21 Flat Field Screen ..................................................................................... 22 Data Collection Software ......................................................................... 23 Data Collection Process .......................................................................... 26 CHAPTER THREE: DATA ANALYSIS ............................................................... 32 Data Analysis Software ........................................................................... 32 iii Data Analysis Process ............................................................................ 32 Results .................................................................................................... 50 Light Curve Modeling .............................................................................. 58 Results of Modeling ................................................................................. 64 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 67 BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................. 71 VITA ................................................................................................................... 73 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1: Exoplanet Transit ............................................................................... 1 Figure 1-2: Transit Diagram .................................................................................. 5 Figure 1-3: Radial Velocity Method ....................................................................... 8 Figure 1-4: Astrometric Method ............................................................................ 9 Figure 1-5: Direct Imaging .................................................................................. 10 Figure 1-6: Gravitational Microlensing ................................................................ 12 Figure 2-1: 16" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope ................................................. 20 Figure 2-2: 12" Ritchey-Chrétien Telescope ....................................................... 21 Figure 2-3: CCD Cameras .................................................................................. 22 Figure 2-4: Flat-Man XL ...................................................................................... 23 Figure 2-5: ACP Interface ................................................................................... 24 Figure 2-6: ACP Script ........................................................................................ 25 Figure 3-1: Add Calibration Frames .................................................................... 33 Figure 3-2: Combine Images Window ................................................................ 34 Figure 3-3: Set Calibration Window .................................................................... 35 Figure 3-4: Photometry Menu In Maxim DL ........................................................ 36 Figure 3-5: Aperture Placement.......................................................................... 37 Figure 3-6: Target Star With Reference Stars .................................................... 39 Figure 3-7: Photometry Results From Maxim DL ................................................ 40 v Figure 3-8: Master Bias Window ......................................................................... 41 Figure 3-9: Master Dark Window ........................................................................ 42 Figure 3-10: Master Flat Window ........................................................................ 43 Figure 3-11: Light Frame Calibration .................................................................. 44 Figure 3-12: Photometry Menu In Mira ............................................................... 45 Figure 3-13: Adjust Aperture Radii ..................................................................... 46 Figure 3-14: Aperture Photometry Properties ..................................................... 47 Figure 3-15: Import Photometry Catalog ............................................................ 48 Figure 3-16: Photometry Results From Mira ....................................................... 49 Figure 3-17: WASP-1 1st Light Curve ................................................................ 50 Figure 3-18: HAT-P-1 1st Light Curve ................................................................ 51 Figure 3-19: WASP-12 Light Curve .................................................................... 52 Figure 3-20: XO-2N Light Curve ......................................................................... 53 Figure 3-21: HAT-P-3 Light Curve ...................................................................... 54 Figure 3-22: HAT-P-1 2nd Light Curve ..............................................................
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