Transiting Exo-Planets Indirect Detection of Planets Orbiting Other Stars

Authors

Brian Shaw, Brigham Young University
Denise Stephens, Brigham Young University

Keywords

exo-plants, indirect detection, planets orbiting stars

College

Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Department

Physics and Astronomy

Abstract

Introduction Over the past year I have been looking at pictures filled with dots and running them through computers. On the surface that doesn’t seem quite exciting but once one understands what is happening between the pixels, the humdrum atmosphere disappears. Each of those dots represent an actual star in our galaxy. And by analyzing the pixels, I can determine properties of these stars. The Orson Pratt Observatory atop the Eyring Science Center on BYU campus has been collection data of potential transits provided by the KELT-North Project. I have been taking that data and reducing it to the point that it can be understood. In this report I will illustrate how that process works and also summarize some of the more interesting results that I found.

Recommended Citation

Shaw, Brian and Stephens, Denise (2015) "Transiting Exo-Planets Indirect Detection of Planets Orbiting Other Stars," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2015: Iss. 1, Article 208.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/208