The PANOPTES project: Discovering exoplanets with low-cost digital cameras

PANOPTES team

doi:10.1117/12.2057288

The PANOPTES project: Discovering exoplanets with low-cost digital cameras

PANOPTES team

Optical Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Panoptic Astronomical Networked OPtical observatory for Transiting Exoplanets Survey (PANOPTES, www.projectpanoptes.org) project is aimed at identifying transiting exoplanets using a wide network of low-cost imaging units. Each unit consists of two commercial digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras equipped with 85mm F1.4 lenses, mounted on a small equatorial mount. At a few $1000s per unit, the system offers a uniquely advantageous survey eficiency for the cost, and can easily be assembled by amateur astronomers or students. Three generations of prototype units have so far been tested, and the baseline unit design, which optimizes robustness, simplicity and cost, is now ready to be duplicated. We describe the hardware and software for the PANOPTES project, focusing on key challenging aspects of the project. We show that obtaining high precision photometric measurements with commercial DSLR color cameras is possible, using a PSF-matching algorithm we developed for this project. On-sky tests show that percent-level photometric precision is achieved in 1 min with a single camera. We also discuss hardware choices aimed at optimizing system robustness while maintaining adequate cost. PANOPTES is both an outreach project and a scientifically compelling survey for transiting exoplanets. In its current phase, experienced PANOPTES members are deploying a limited number of units, acquiring the experience necessary to run the network. A much wider community will then be able to participate to the project, with schools and citizen scientists integrating their units in the network.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes V
Editors	Larry M. Stepp, Roberto Gilmozzi, Helen J. Hall
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9780819496133
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057288
State	Published - 2014
Event	Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes V - Montreal, Canada Duration: Jun 22 2014 → Jun 27 2014

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	9145
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Other

Other	Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes V
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Montreal
Period	6/22/14 → 6/27/14

Keywords

Exoplanets
Photometry
Robotic Telescopes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Computer Science Applications
Applied Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Access to Document

10.1117/12.2057288

Cite this

The PANOPTES project: Discovering exoplanets with low-cost digital cameras. / PANOPTES team.
Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes V. ed. / Larry M. Stepp; Roberto Gilmozzi; Helen J. Hall. SPIE, 2014. 91453V (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 9145).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

PANOPTES team 2014, The PANOPTES project: Discovering exoplanets with low-cost digital cameras. in LM Stepp, R Gilmozzi & HJ Hall (eds), Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes V., 91453V, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 9145, SPIE, Ground-Based and Airborne Telescopes V, Montreal, Canada, 6/22/14. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2057288

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abstract = "The Panoptic Astronomical Networked OPtical observatory for Transiting Exoplanets Survey (PANOPTES, www.projectpanoptes.org) project is aimed at identifying transiting exoplanets using a wide network of low-cost imaging units. Each unit consists of two commercial digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras equipped with 85mm F1.4 lenses, mounted on a small equatorial mount. At a few $1000s per unit, the system offers a uniquely advantageous survey eficiency for the cost, and can easily be assembled by amateur astronomers or students. Three generations of prototype units have so far been tested, and the baseline unit design, which optimizes robustness, simplicity and cost, is now ready to be duplicated. We describe the hardware and software for the PANOPTES project, focusing on key challenging aspects of the project. We show that obtaining high precision photometric measurements with commercial DSLR color cameras is possible, using a PSF-matching algorithm we developed for this project. On-sky tests show that percent-level photometric precision is achieved in 1 min with a single camera. We also discuss hardware choices aimed at optimizing system robustness while maintaining adequate cost. PANOPTES is both an outreach project and a scientifically compelling survey for transiting exoplanets. In its current phase, experienced PANOPTES members are deploying a limited number of units, acquiring the experience necessary to run the network. A much wider community will then be able to participate to the project, with schools and citizen scientists integrating their units in the network.",

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The PANOPTES project: Discovering exoplanets with low-cost digital cameras

Abstract

Publication series

Other

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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