Name
Abstract | ||
|---|---|---|
The search for undiscovered planets outside the solar system is a scientific topic that is rapidly spreading into the astrophysical and engineering communities. In this framework, the design of an innovative payload to detect exoplanets from a nano-sized space platform, like a 3U cubesat, is presented. The selected detection method is photometric transit, and the payload aims to detect flux decrements down to similar to 0.01% with a precision of 12 ppm. The payload design is also aimed at false positive recognition. The solution consists of a four-facets pyramid on the top of the payload, to allow for measurement redundancy and low-resolution spectral dispersion of the star images. The innovative concept is the use of a small and cheap platform for a relevant astronomical mission. The faintest observable target star has V-magnitude equal to 3.38. Despite missions aimed at ultra-precise photometry from microsatellites (e.g., MOST, BRITE), the transit of exoplanets orbiting very bright stars has not yet been surveyed photometrically from space, since any observation from a small/medium sized (30 cm optical aperture) telescope would saturate the detector. This cubesat mission can provide these missing measurements. This work is set up as a demonstrative project to verify the feasibility of the payload concept. |
Year | DOI | Venue |
|---|---|---|
2017 | 10.3390/s17030493 | SENSORS |
Keywords | Field | DocType |
exoplanets,cubesat,photometric transit,photometry,pyramid,false positive | Aperture,Astronomy,Telescope,Planet,CubeSat,Sextant (astronomical),Solar System,Exoplanet,Payload,Physics | Journal |
Volume | Issue | Citations |
17 | 3.0 | 1 |
PageRank | References | Authors |
0.37 | 0 | 6 |
Name | Order | Citations | PageRank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcella Iuzzolino | 1 | 1 | 0.37 |
| Domenico Accardo | 2 | 66 | 13.65 |
| G. Rufino | 3 | 54 | 8.56 |
| Ernesto Oliva | 4 | 1 | 0.37 |
| Andrea Tozzi | 5 | 1 | 0.37 |
| Pietro Schipani | 6 | 1 | 0.37 |