The goal of this work is to conduct a photometric study of eclipsing binaries in M31. We apply a modified box-fitting algorithm to search for eclipsing binary candidates and determine their period. We classify these candidates into detached, semi-det
ached, and contact systems using the Fourier decomposition method. We cross-match the position of our detached candidates with the photometry from Local Group Survey (Massey et al. 2006) and select 13 candidates brighter than 20.5 magnitude in V. The relative physical parameters of these detached candidates are further characterized with Detached Eclipsing Binary Light curve fitter (DEBiL) by Devor (2005). We will followup the detached eclipsing binaries spectroscopically and determine the distance to M31.
We describe the pre-OmegaTranS project, a deep survey for transiting extra-solar planets in the Carina region of the Galactic Disk. In 2006-2008 we observed a single dense stellar field with a very high cadence of ~2min using the ESO Wide Field Image
r at the La Silla Observatory. Using the Astronomical Wide-field System for Europe and the Munich Difference Imaging Analysis pipeline, a module that has been developed for this project, we created the light curves of 16000 stars with more than 4000 data points which we searched for periodic transit signals using a box-fitting least-squares detection algorithm. All light curves are publicly available. In the course of the pre-OmegaTranS project we identified two planet candidates - POTS-1b and POTS-C2b - which we present in this work. With extensive follow-up observations we were able to confirm one of them, POTS-1b, a hot Jupiter transiting a mid-K dwarf. The planet has a mass of 2.31+-0.77M_Jup and a radius of 0.94+-0.04R_Jup and a period of P=3.16d. The host star POTS-1 has a radius of 0.59+-0.02R_Sun and a mass of 0.70+-0.05M_Sun. Due to its low apparent brightness of I=16.1mag the follow-up and confirmation of POTS-1b was particularly challenging and costly.
We describe the Munich Difference Imaging Analysis pipeline that we developed and implemented in the framework of the Astro-WISE package to automatically measure high precision light curves of a large number of stellar objects using the difference im
aging approach. Combined with programs to detect time variability, this software can be used to search for planetary systems or binary stars with the transit method and for variable stars of different kinds. As a first scientific application, we discuss the data reduction and analysis performed with Astro-WISE on the pre-OmegaTranS data set, that we collected during a monitoring campaign of a dense stellar field with the Wide Field Imager at the ESO 2.2m telescope.
The Pan-STARRS 1 (PS1) survey of M31 (PAndromeda) is designed to identify gravitational microlensing events, caused by bulge and disk stars (self-lensing) and by compact matter in the halos of M31 and the Milky Way (halo lensing, or lensing by MACHOs
). With the 7 deg2 FOV of PS1, the entire disk of M31 can be imaged with one single pointing. Our aim is to monitor M31 with this wide FOV with daily sampling (20 mins/day). In the 2010 season we acquired in total 91 nights towards M31, with 90 nights in the rP1 and 66 nights in the iP1. The total integration time in rP1 and iP1 are 70740s and 36180s, respectively. As a preliminary analysis, we study a 40times40 sub-field in the central region of M31, a 20times20 sub-field in the disk of M31 and a 20times20 sub-field for the investigation of astrometric precision. We demonstrate that the PSF is good enough to detect microlensing events. We present light curves for 6 candidate microlensing events. This is a competitive rate compared to previous M31 microlensing surveys. We finally also present one example light curve for Cepheids, novae and eclipsing binaries in these sub-fields.
Context: Repeated observations of exoplanet transits allow us to refine the planetary parameters and probe them for any time dependent variations. In particular deviations of the period from a strictly linear ephemeris, transit timing variations (TTV
s), can indicate the presence of additional bodies in the planetary system. Aims: Our goal was to reexamine the largely unstudied OGLE2-TR-L9 system with high cadence, multi-color photometry in order to refine the planetary parameters and probe the system for TTVs. Methods: We observed five full transits of OGLE2-TR-L9 with the GROND instrument at the ESO/MPG 2.2 m telescope at La Silla Observatory. GROND is a multichannel imager that allowed us to gather simultaneous light curves in the g, r, i, and z filters. Results: From our analysis we find that the semi-major axis and the inclination differ from the previously published values. With the newly observed transits, we were able to refine the ephemeris to 2454492.80008(+/- 0.00014) + 2.48553417(+/- 6.4) x 10^-7 E. The newly derived parameters are a=0.0418 (+/- 0.0015) AU, r_p =1.67 (+/- 0.05) R_j, and inc=82.47{deg} (+/- 0.12), differing significantly in a and inc from the previously published values. Within our data, we find indications for TTVs.
We measured the radial velocity of 139 stars in the region of NGC 6253, discussing clusters membership and binarity in this sample, complementing our analysis with photometric, proper motion, and radial velocity data available from previous studies o
f this cluster, and analyzing three planetary transiting candidates we found in the field of NGC 6253. Spectra were obtained with the UVES and GIRAFFE spectrographs at the VLT, during three epochs in August 2008. The mean radial velocity of the cluster is -29.11+/-0.85 km/s. Using both radial velocities and proper motions we found 35 clusters members, among which 12 are likely clusters close binary systems. One star may have a sub-stellar companion, requiring a more intensive follow-up. Our results are in good agreement with past radial velocity and photometric measurements. Furthermore, using our photometry, astrometry and spectroscopy we identified a new sub-giant branch eclipsing binary system, member of the cluster. The clusters close binary frequency at 29% +/- 9% (34% +/-10% once including long period binaries), appears higher than the field binary frequency equal to (22% +/- 5%, though these estimates are still consistent within the uncertainties. Among the three transiting planetary candidates the brightest one (V=15.26) is worth to be more intensively investigated with higher percision spectroscopy. We discussed the possibility to detect sub-stellar companions (brown dwarfs and planets) with the radial velocity technique (both with UVES/GIRAFFE and HARPS) around turn-off stars of old open clusters [abridged].
Using Monte Carlo simulations we analyze the potential of the upcoming transit survey Pan-Planets. The analysis covers the simulation of realistic light curves (including the effects of ingress/egress and limb-darkening) with both correlated and unco
rrelated noise as well as the application of a box-fitting-least-squares detection algorithm. In this work we show how simulations can be a powerful tool in defining and optimizing the survey strategy of a transiting planet survey. We find the Pan-Planets project to be competitive with all other existing and planned transit surveys with the main power being the large 7 square degree field of view. In the first year we expect to find up to 25 Jupiter-sized planets with periods below 5 days around stars brighter than V = 16.5 mag. The survey will also be sensitive to planets with longer periods and planets with smaller radii. After the second year of the survey, we expect to find up to 9 Warm Jupiters with periods between 5 and 9 days and 7 Very Hot Saturns around stars brighter than V = 16.5 mag as well as 9 Very Hot Neptunes with periods from 1 to 3 days around stars brighter than i = 18.0 mag.
Context: Photometric observations for the OGLE-II microlens monitoring campaign have been taken in the period 1997-2000. All light curves of this campaign have recently been made public. Our analysis of these data has revealed 13 low-amplitude transi
ting objects among ~15700 stars in three Carina fields towards the galactic disk. One of these objects, OGLE2-TR-L9 (P~2.5 days), turned out to be an excellent transiting planet candidate. Aims: In this paper we report on our investigation of the true nature of OGLE2-TR-L9, by re-observing the photometric transit with the aim to determine the transit parameters at high precision, and by spectroscopic observations, to estimate the properties of the host star, and to determine the mass of the transiting object through radial velocity measurements. Methods: High precision photometric observations have been obtained in g, r, i, and z band simultaneously, using the new GROND detector, mounted on the MPI/ESO 2.2m telescope at La Silla. Eight epochs of high-dispersion spectroscopic observations were obtained using the fiber-fed FLAMES/UVES Echelle spectrograph, mounted on ESOs Very Large Telescope at Paranal. Results: The photometric transit, now more than 7 years after the last OGLE-II observations, was re-discovered only ~8 minutes from its predicted time. The primary object is a fast rotating F3 star, with vsini=39.33+-0.38 km/s, T=6933+-58 K, log g = 4.25+-0.01, and [Fe/H] = -0.05+-0.20. The transiting object is an extrasolar planet with M_p=4.5+-1.5 M_Jup and R_p=1.61+-0.04 R_Jup. The rejection of possible blend scenarios was based on a quantitative analysis of the multi-color photometric data [abridged].
