Title of programme: Axis 1 - Gas Contents of Low Mass Planets (GCLMP)
Abstract: The priority questions for planetary sciences are aimed at understanding the origin of planetary systems and life. Planet formation is a complex process that starts with the condensation of matter in a disc of molecular gas and dust. Planetesimals grow into planets, accrete material, lose volatiles, chemically evolve and outgas, contract as they cool down, and finally are destroyed, or survive, when the star dies, ejecting back material into the interstellar medium and possibly starting again a new cycle. Most of the evidence that we have on these processes comes from the study of our Solar System and astrophysical observations of neighboring stars. The detection and characterization of extrasolar planets revealed a diversity of planetary systems beyond the Solar System but these discoveries challenged existing planet formation theories. Precisely characterized bulk properties of exoplanets help place constraints on the varying formation conditions and evolution processes in order to understand the origin of exoplanets. In this program, we propose the characterization of long-period (P > 15 days), low-mass gas-rich planets (defined as planets with radii between 2 and 4 Earth radii) by refining their planetary radii.
Temporal Coverage
2024-01-10T00:11:57Z / 2024-01-10T18:19:00Z
Version
3.0
Mission Description
CHEOPS (Benz et al., https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-020-09679-4) is a European Space Agency (ESA) mission in partnership with Switzerland with important contributions to the payload and the ground segment from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
The satellite has a single payload comprising an ultra-high precision photometer covering the 330 - 1100 nm wavelength range in a single photometric band. Observations are made as part of the Guaranteed Time Observing Programme that is formulated by the CHEOPS Science Team, and the Guest Observers Programme through which the Community at large can apply for CHEOPS time.
