Processing CCD images to detect transits of Earth-sized planets: maximizing sensitivity while achieving reasonable downlink requirements

Jon M. Jenkins; Fred C. Witteborn; David G. Koch; Edward W. Dunham; William J. Borucki; Todd F. Updike; Mark A. Skinner; Steven P. Jordan

doi:10.1117/12.394035

28 July 2000 Processing CCD images to detect transits of Earth-sized planets: maximizing sensitivity while achieving reasonable downlink requirements

Jon M. Jenkins, Fred C. Witteborn, David G. Koch, Edward W. Dunham, William J. Borucki, Todd F. Updike, Mark A. Skinner, Steven P. Jordan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4013, UV, Optical, and IR Space Telescopes and Instruments; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.394035
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

We have performed end-to-end laboratory and numerical simulations to demonstrate the capability of differential photometry under realistic operating conditions to detect transits of Earth-sized planets orbiting solar-like stars. Data acquisition and processing were conducted using the same methods planned for the proposed Kepler Mission. These included performing aperture photometry on large-format CCD images of an artificial star fields obtained without a shutter at a readout rate of 1 megapixel/sec, detecting and removing cosmic rays from individual exposures and making the necessary corrections for nonlinearity and shutterless operation in the absence of darks. We will discuss the image processing tasks performed `on-board' the simulated spacecraft, which yielded raw photometry and ancillary data used to monitor and correct for systematic effects, and the data processing and analysis tasks conducted to obtain lightcurves from the raw data and characterize the detectability of transits. The laboratory results are discussed along with the results of a numerical simulation carried out in parallel with the laboratory simulation. These two simulations demonstrate that a system-level differential photometric precision of 10^-5 on five- hour intervals can be achieved under realistic conditions.

Citation Download Citation

Jon M. Jenkins, Fred C. Witteborn, David G. Koch, Edward W. Dunham, William J. Borucki, Todd F. Updike, Mark A. Skinner, and Steven P. Jordan "Processing CCD images to detect transits of Earth-sized planets: maximizing sensitivity while achieving reasonable downlink requirements", Proc. SPIE 4013, UV, Optical, and IR Space Telescopes and Instruments, (28 July 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.394035

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available