Latest ExoClock publication

The paper is a collective study of updated ephemerides for 180 planets which are included in the Mission Reference Sample of the Ariel space mission. The paper has 105 co-authors including professional and amateur Astronomers, and also university and high school students.

Impact for the Ariel Space Mission: The results show that small and medium sized telescopes can observe the targets and successfully monitor their ephemerides. In this way, the efficiency of the Ariel mission is increased to the maximum. Small telescopes by amateur Astronomers contribute to real science having a high impact to the mission. The updated ephemerides were produced as a result of a combination of data: 1600 observations from the ExoClock network, 2500 mid-time points from the literature and 18 observations provided by the Exoplanet Transit Database (ETD).

The double-goal of the ExoClock project is to increase the efficiency of the Ariel space mission and bring people from different backgrounds together to work in a collaborative spirit.

Science is for everyone, and we are very happy that through the project everyone can be part of a real space mission. Our observers come from more than 30 countries and have different backgrounds. Every contribution counts and becomes valuable in ExoClock. It is wonderful to see so many people willing to learn and participate in a space mission. Our team keeps growing daily with participants from all over the world.

- Anastasia Kokori, ExoClock project coordinator.  

Links

• Published paper: "ExoClock Project. II. A Large-scale Integrated Study with 180 Updated Exoplanet Ephemerides", A. Kokori et al 2022, ApJS, 258 40, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/ac3a10
• Ariel space mission website
• ExoClock website