Exoplanet radius measurements for short-period exoplanets observed by the CHEOPS mission

Harris, Braeden Marie

Abstract

Context. Scheduling observing time for the CHEOPS mission leaves short gaps in which the telescope goes unused. If data collected during these gaps provided quality results, they could be utilised to make observing time more efficient.
Aims. The aim of this study is to determine if the data collected during gaps in allocated observing time can produce publishable quality planetary radius measurements.
Methods. A bespoke method was created using pycheops to analyse short-period exoplanets observed during these observing gaps alongside TESS data analysis. Six exoplanetary systems were chosen to test this method: WASP-3, WASP-14, WASP-16, WASP-24, WASP-29, and WASP-74. The planetary radius measurements from each system were compared against published papers in order to determine their accuracy and precision.
Results. The planetary radius measurements were found to be comparable to literature for the exoplanets in this study. Furthermore, the radius measurements of WASP- 3b, WASP-14b, WASP-16b, and WASP-29b were more precise than current literature values.
Conclusions. While it requires additional information to fill in missing pieces, precise radius measurements can be made using as little as one CHEOPS dataset. By adding these “filler programmes” to observing schedules, CHEOPS can be used more efficiently.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Mar 14, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 14, 2024
• Award Date: 2024-03