The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign
Our team is carrying out a multi-year observing program to directly image and characterize young extrasolar planets using the Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI) on the Gemini-South 8.1-meter telescope. NICI is the first instrument on a large telescope designed from the outset for high-contras...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2010
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| _version_ | 1797079802165854208 |
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| author | Liu, M Wahhaj, Z Biller, B Nielsen, E Chun, M Close, L Ftaclas, C Hartung, M Hayward, T Clarke, F Reid, I Shkolnik, E Tecza, M Thatte, N Alencar, S Artymowicz, P Boss, A Burrows, A De Gouveia Dal Pino, E Gregorio-Hetem, J Ida, S Kuchner, M Lin, D Toomey, D |
| author_facet | Liu, M Wahhaj, Z Biller, B Nielsen, E Chun, M Close, L Ftaclas, C Hartung, M Hayward, T Clarke, F Reid, I Shkolnik, E Tecza, M Thatte, N Alencar, S Artymowicz, P Boss, A Burrows, A De Gouveia Dal Pino, E Gregorio-Hetem, J Ida, S Kuchner, M Lin, D Toomey, D |
| author_sort | Liu, M |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Our team is carrying out a multi-year observing program to directly image and characterize young extrasolar planets using the Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI) on the Gemini-South 8.1-meter telescope. NICI is the first instrument on a large telescope designed from the outset for high-contrast imaging, comprising a high-performance curvature adaptive optics (AO) system with a simultaneous dual-channel coronagraphic imager. Combined, with state-of-the-art AO observing methods and data processing, NICI typically achieves ≈2 magnitudes better contrast compared to previous ground-based or space-based planet-finding efforts, at separations inside of ≈2". In preparation for the Campaign, we carried out efforts to identify previously unrecognized, young stars as targets, to develop a rigorous quantitative method, for constructing our observing strategy, and to optimize the combination of angular differential imaging and spectral differential imaging. The Planet-Finding Campaign is in its second year, with first-epoch imaging of 174 stars already obtained out of a total sample of 300 stars. We describe the Campaign's goals, design, target selection, implementation, on-sky performance, and preliminary results. The NICI Planet-Finding Campaign represents the largest and most sensitive imaging survey to date for massive (≳1 MJup) planets around other stars. Upon completion, the Campaign will establish the best measurements to date on the properties of young gas-giant planets at ≳5-10 AU separations. Finally, Campaign discoveries will be well-suited to long-term orbital monitoring and detailed spectrophotometric followup with next-generation planet-finding instruments. © 2010 SPIE. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:50:59Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:8667f89c-52cf-458b-b1d6-a3606a777376 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:50:59Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:8667f89c-52cf-458b-b1d6-a3606a7773762022-03-26T22:03:41ZThe gemini NICI planet-finding campaignJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:8667f89c-52cf-458b-b1d6-a3606a777376EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2010Liu, MWahhaj, ZBiller, BNielsen, EChun, MClose, LFtaclas, CHartung, MHayward, TClarke, FReid, IShkolnik, ETecza, MThatte, NAlencar, SArtymowicz, PBoss, ABurrows, ADe Gouveia Dal Pino, EGregorio-Hetem, JIda, SKuchner, MLin, DToomey, DOur team is carrying out a multi-year observing program to directly image and characterize young extrasolar planets using the Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI) on the Gemini-South 8.1-meter telescope. NICI is the first instrument on a large telescope designed from the outset for high-contrast imaging, comprising a high-performance curvature adaptive optics (AO) system with a simultaneous dual-channel coronagraphic imager. Combined, with state-of-the-art AO observing methods and data processing, NICI typically achieves ≈2 magnitudes better contrast compared to previous ground-based or space-based planet-finding efforts, at separations inside of ≈2". In preparation for the Campaign, we carried out efforts to identify previously unrecognized, young stars as targets, to develop a rigorous quantitative method, for constructing our observing strategy, and to optimize the combination of angular differential imaging and spectral differential imaging. The Planet-Finding Campaign is in its second year, with first-epoch imaging of 174 stars already obtained out of a total sample of 300 stars. We describe the Campaign's goals, design, target selection, implementation, on-sky performance, and preliminary results. The NICI Planet-Finding Campaign represents the largest and most sensitive imaging survey to date for massive (≳1 MJup) planets around other stars. Upon completion, the Campaign will establish the best measurements to date on the properties of young gas-giant planets at ≳5-10 AU separations. Finally, Campaign discoveries will be well-suited to long-term orbital monitoring and detailed spectrophotometric followup with next-generation planet-finding instruments. © 2010 SPIE. |
| spellingShingle | Liu, M Wahhaj, Z Biller, B Nielsen, E Chun, M Close, L Ftaclas, C Hartung, M Hayward, T Clarke, F Reid, I Shkolnik, E Tecza, M Thatte, N Alencar, S Artymowicz, P Boss, A Burrows, A De Gouveia Dal Pino, E Gregorio-Hetem, J Ida, S Kuchner, M Lin, D Toomey, D The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign |
| title | The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign |
| title_full | The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign |
| title_fullStr | The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign |
| title_full_unstemmed | The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign |
| title_short | The gemini NICI planet-finding campaign |
| title_sort | gemini nici planet finding campaign |
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