No Arabic abstract
We present results from 30 nights of observations of the open cluster NGC 7789 with the WFC camera on the INT telescope in La Palma. From ~900 epochs, we obtained lightcurves and Sloan r-i colours for ~33000 stars, with ~2400 stars with better than 1% precision. We expected to detect ~2 transiting hot Jupiter planets if 1% of stars host such a companion and that a typical hot Jupiter radius is ~1.2RJ. We find 24 transit candidates, 14 of which we can assign a period. We rule out the transiting planet model for 21 of these candidates using various robust arguments. For 2 candidates we are unable to decide on their nature, although it seems most likely that they are eclipsing binaries as well. We have one candidate exhibiting a single eclipse for which we derive a radius of 1.81+0.09-0.00RJ. Three candidates remain that require follow-up observations in order to determine their nature.
Open clusters are ideal targets for searching for transiting Hot Jupiters. They provide a relatively large concentration of stars on the sky and cluster members have similar metallicities, ages and distances. Fainter cluster members are likely to show deeper transit signatures, helping to offset sky noise contributions. A survey of open clusters will then help to characterise the Hot Jupiter fraction of main sequence stars, and how this may depend on primordial metallicity and stellar age. We present results from 11 nights of observations of the open cluster NGC 7789 with the WFC camera on the INT telescope in La Palma. From 684 epochs, we obtained lightcurves and B-V colours for ~25600 stars, with ~2400 stars with better than 1% precision. We expect to detect ~1 transiting Hot Jupiter in our sample assuming that 1% of stars host a Hot Jupiter companion.
We present preliminary photometric results of a monitoring study of the open cluster NGC 2660 as part of the EXPLORE/OC project to find planetary transits in Galactic open clusters. Analyzing a total of 21000 stars (3000 stars with photometry to 1% or better) yielded three light curves with low-amplitude signals like those typically expected for transiting hot Jupiters. Although their eclipses are most likely caused by non-planetary companions, our methods and photometric precision illustrate the potential to detect planetary transits around stars in nearby open clusters.
The EXPLORE Project expanded in 2003 to include a campaign to monitor rich southern open clusters for transits of extrasolar planets (EXPLORE/OC). In May and June 2003, we acquired precise, high-cadence photometry of the second open cluster in our campaign, NGC 6208. Here, we present preliminary results from our I-band survey of over 60000 stars in the field of NGC 6208, around 5000 of which were monitored with photometric precision better than 1%.
The Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT) project is a small aperture, wide-angle search for planetary transits of solar-type stars. In this paper, we present the results of a commissioning campaign with the KELT telescope to observe the open cluster Praesepe for 34 nights in early 2005. Lightcurves were obtained for 69,337 stars, out of which we identify 58 long period variables and 152 periodic variables. Sixteen of these are previously known as variable, yielding 194 newly discovered variable stars for which we provide properties and lightcurves. We also searched for planetary-like transits, finding four transit candidates. Follow-up observations indicate that two of the candidates are astrophysical false positives, with two candidates remaining as potential planetary transits.
Star clusters provide an excellent opportunity to study the role of environment on determining the frequencies of short period planets. They provide a large sample of stars which can be imaged simultaneously, with a common distance, age and pre-determined physical parameters. This allows the search to be tailor-made for each specific cluster. Several groups are attempting to detect transiting planets in open clusters. Three previous surveys have also targeted the two brightest globular clusters. No cluster survey has yet detected a planet. This contribution presents a brief overview of the field, highlighting the pros and cons of performing such a search, and presents the expected and current results, with implications for planetary frequencies in regions of high stellar density and low metallicity.