XO Project: Difference between revisions
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The '''XO Project''' is an international team of amateur and professional astronomers tasked with identifying extrasolar planets. They are led by [[Peter R. McCullough]] of the [[Space Telescope Science Institute]].<ref name="spacedaily">[http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Astronomers_Catch_Planet_By_Unusual_Means.html Astronomers Catch Planet By Unusual Means, ''Space Daily'']</ref> It is primarily funded by [[NASA|NASA's]] Origins Program and the Director's Discretionary Fund of the Space Telescope Science Institute.<ref name="eurekalert">[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/ru-xsp052507.php XO-3b: Supersized planet or oasis in the 'brown dwarf desert'?, ''EurekAlert!'']</ref><ref name="hubblesite">[http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2006/22/full/ Astronomers Use Innovative Technique to Find Extrasolar Planet, ''HubbleSite'']</ref> |
The '''XO Project''' is an international team of amateur and professional astronomers tasked with identifying extrasolar planets. They are led by [[Peter R. McCullough]] of the [[Space Telescope Science Institute]].<ref name="spacedaily">[http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Astronomers_Catch_Planet_By_Unusual_Means.html Astronomers Catch Planet By Unusual Means, ''Space Daily'']</ref> It is primarily funded by [[NASA|NASA's]] Origins Program and the Director's Discretionary Fund of the Space Telescope Science Institute.<ref name="eurekalert">[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/ru-xsp052507.php XO-3b: Supersized planet or oasis in the 'brown dwarf desert'?, ''EurekAlert!'']</ref><ref name="hubblesite">[http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2006/22/full/ Astronomers Use Innovative Technique to Find Extrasolar Planet, ''HubbleSite'']</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:39, 12 August 2023
It has been suggested that XO Telescope be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since February 2019. |
The XO Project is an international team of amateur and professional astronomers tasked with identifying extrasolar planets. They are led by Peter R. McCullough of the Space Telescope Science Institute.[1] It is primarily funded by NASA's Origins Program and the Director's Discretionary Fund of the Space Telescope Science Institute.[2][3]
Duties
Preliminary identification of possible star candidates starts at the Haleakala telescope in Hawaii by a team of professional astronomers. Once they identify a star that dims slightly from time to time, the information is forwarded to a team of amateur astronomers who then investigate for additional evidence suggesting this dimming is caused by a transiting planet. Once enough data is collected, it is forwarded to the University of Texas McDonald Observatory to confirm the presence of a transiting planet by a second team of professional astronomers.[2]
Equipment
McCullough and his team employed a relatively inexpensive telescope called an XO Telescope, made from commercial equipment, to search for extrasolar planets. This telescope consists of two 200-millimeter telephoto camera lenses, and resembles binoculars in shape. It stands on the summit of the Haleakalā volcano in Hawaii.[1] Their first discovery of a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a Sun-like star 600 light-years from Earth in the constellation Corona Borealis—XO-1b—was reported May 16, 2006 on Newswise.
In 2016 three similar double telescopes were operating, two in Spain and one in Utah.[4]
Discoveries
References
- ^ a b Astronomers Catch Planet By Unusual Means, Space Daily
- ^ a b XO-3b: Supersized planet or oasis in the 'brown dwarf desert'?, EurekAlert!
- ^ Astronomers Use Innovative Technique to Find Extrasolar Planet, HubbleSite
- ^ Crouzet, N.; McCullough, P. R.; Long, D.; Rodriguez, P. Montanes; Etangs, A. Lecavelier des; Ribas, I.; Bourrier, V.; Hébrard, G.; Vilardell, F. (February 2017). "Discovery of XO-6b: A Hot Jupiter Transiting a Fast Rotating F5 Star on an Oblique Orbit". The Astronomical Journal. 153 (3): 94. arXiv:1612.02776. Bibcode:2017AJ....153...94C. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/153/3/94. ISSN 1538-3881.
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