Title of programme: : Bridging CHEOPS and Twinkle: forming long TTV baselines for the multi-planet system K2-266
Abstract: The measuring of transit timing variations (TTVs) allows one to explore the dynamical interactions of planets within a system, shedding light on the properties of these bodies. Here propose to observe the transits of two planets in the K2-266 system, K2-266d and K2-266e, in order to more robustly constrain the previously reported TTVs. These data will allow us to obtain much more precise mass and orbital parameters of this unique system. TESS has observed the system already, adding to the time baseline relative to the original K2 observations, but the TESS data are not accurate enough to distinguish between competing models. However, as discussed in the scientific justification of this proposal, the CHEOPS data proposed here is able to distinguish between different models with small differences in the system parameters. The ability to precisely distinguish between competing models means the CHEOPS data will provide a high precision measurement and bring a large impact into the study of this astronomically important planet system. Furthermore, as members of the Twinkle Space Mission’s exoplanet TTV Working Group, we aim to observe this system with Twinkle in the future. While the data proposed for here is valuable in its own right, combining data from both these small low-Earth orbit satellites over a long baseline will yield better results than using either one alone.
Temporal Coverage
2024-01-30T21:25:00Z / 2024-01-31T11:09:00Z
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.
