Title of programme: Axis 1 - DETECTIVE CHEOPS: Confirming small transiting planets on long orbital periods
Abstract: Transiting planets orbiting bright stars are key for the characterisation of exoplanet atmospheres and internal structures. However the vast majority of such planets have short (P<20d) orbital periods. This is because long-period transiting planets do not produce consecutive transits in photometric survey data. However, these planets are some of the most interesting as, unlike their interior companions, they are less affected by the gravitational and electromagnetic effects of their host stars. This programme will use CHEOPS to efficiently detect characterisable small transiting planets on long orbital periods. We will do this by leveraging as much external information as possible to constrain orbital periods - from nonconsecutive transits (i.e. mono-, duo- or trio-transit candidates) in photometric survey data such as K2 or TESS, and from radial velocities where available. Such techniques have been successful in the CHEOPS nominal mission with for example the photometrically-constrained TOI-2076 c & d (Osborn et al 2022), or the monotransit+RV case of TOI-561 d & e (Lacedelli et al 2021 & 2022). These planets, once found by CHEOPS, may also form interesting science targets for other parts of the GTO extended mission science case such as studying the architectural diversity of exoplanetary systems, and even searches for exomoon & rings.
Temporal Coverage
2024-02-10T19:53:00Z / 2024-02-11T00:50:00Z
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.
