The Robo-AO KOI survey: laser adaptive optics imaging of every Kepler exoplanet candidate
Abstract
The Robo-AO Kepler Planetary Candidate Survey is observing every Kepler planet candidate host star (KOI) with laser adaptive optics imaging to hunt for blended nearby stars which may be physically associated companions. With the unparalleled efficiency provided by the first fully robotic adaptive optics system, we perform the critical search for nearby stars (0.15" to 4.0" separation with contrasts up to 6 magnitudes) that dilute the observed planetary transit signal, contributing to inaccurate planetary characteristics or astrophysical false positives. We present 3313 high resolution observations of Kepler planetary hosts from 2012-2015, discovering 479 nearby stars. We measure an overall nearby star probability rate of 14.5±0.8%. With this large data set, we are uniquely able to explore broad correlations between multiple star systems and the properties of the planets which they host, providing insight into the formation and evolution of planetary systems in our galaxy. Several KOIs of particular interest will be discussed, including possible quadruple star systems hosting planets and updated properties for possible rocky planets orbiting with in their star's habitable zone.
Additional Information
© 2016 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). This research is supported by the NASA Exoplanets Research Program, grant #NNX 15AC91G. C.B. acknowledges support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. T.M is supported by NASA grant #NNX 14AE11G under the Kepler Participating Scientist Program. The Robo-AO system is supported by collaborating partner institutions, the California Institute of Technology and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, and by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. AST-0906060, AST-0960343, and AST-1207891, by the Mount Cuba Astronomical Foundation, and by a gift from Samuel Oschin. We are grateful to the Palomar Observatory staff for their ongoing support of Robo-AO on the 1.5-m telescope, particularly S. Kunsman, M. Doyle, J. Henning, R. Walters, G. Van Idsinga, B. Baker, K. Dunscombe and D. Roderick.Attached Files
Published - 99095U.pdf
Submitted - 1608.00575v1.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 72516
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20161202-084332049
- NNX 15AC91G
- NASA
- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
- NNX14AE11G
- NASA
- Caltech
- AST-0906060
- NSF
- AST-0960343
- NSF
- AST-1207891
- NSF
- Mt. Cuba Astronomical Foundation
- Samuel Oschin
- Created
-
2016-12-02Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-11Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Series Name
- Proceedings of SPIE
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 9909