Detecting Extrasolar Planetary Transits Through Photoelectric Photometry (Abstract)

Volume 35 number 1 (2007)

Matthew Beaky

Abstract

(Abstract only) Observations of extrasolar planetary transits are crucial to determining specific information about the planet, such as mass and radius. Most observations are made using a CCD camera, but in this project we demonstrate that a solid-state photoelectric photometer can yield comparable precision. In this study, an Optec SSP-3A photoelectric photometer was used at the Truman State University Observatory in Kirksville, Missouri, to observe transits of extrasolar planets. The precision of this system is demonstrated by observing a transit of HD 209458, a well-known transiting planet with an associated stellar magnitude decrease of 0.017. Other attempts at observing planetary transits will also be reported.