Extrasolar Planet Observations and Characterization (EPOCh)
The EPOCh investigation observed Earth, the Moon, and Mars to characterize them as analogs for possible extrasolar planets. This project recorded images over time of the entire disc of Earth and Mars over 24-hour periods using seven colors of visible light and near-infrared wavelengths (1-4.5 microns). The Moon was observed over a few hours during one of the Earth observations. This unique data set is enabling explorations of the properties of distant earth-like planets to prepare for efforts some day to directly detect and understand such objects.
Organization
Launch Date
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Class
Flight Project
Website
The Extrasolar Planet Observations and Characterization (EPOCh) investigation was a scientific component of the EPOXI mission. EPOXI re-used the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft to observe transiting extrasolar planets, and the Earth-as-an-extrasolar planet, while enroute to a 2010 encounter with comet Hartley-2. EPOCh used the High Resolution Imager (HRI) with its CCD camera to produce very precise photometry of giant extrasolar planets that transit nearby bright stars. Since the HRI was defocused, EPOCh could collect many stellar photons per exposure without saturating the detector, and thus produce very precise photometry of transits. The EPOCh team used these data to refine the physical properties of the giant planets, search for rings and moons that may orbit them, and search for smaller planets in these systems, down to the size of Earth.
EPOCh scientists connected to Goddard's Planetary Systems Laboratory include Drs. Drake Deming (Principal Investigator), Tim Livengood, and Tilak Hewagama.
Related Publications
2009.
"ALIEN MAPS OF AN OCEAN-BEARING WORLD.",
The Astrophysical Journal,
700
(2):
915-923
[10.1088/0004-637x/700/2/915]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2010.
"A Search for Additional Planets in the NASA EPOXI Observations of the Exoplanet System GJ 436.",
The Astrophysical Journal,
716
1047[Full Text]
[10.1088/0004-637X/716/2/1047]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2011.
"System Parameters, Transit Times, and Secondary Eclipse Constraints of the Exoplanet Systems HAT-P-4, TrES-2, TrES-3, and WASP-3 from the NASA EPOXI Mission of Opportunity.",
The Astrophysical Journal,
726
94[Full Text]
[10.1088/0004-637X/726/2/94]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2011.
"ROTATIONAL VARIABILITY OF EARTH'S POLAR REGIONS: IMPLICATIONS FOR DETECTING SNOWBALL PLANETS.",
The Astrophysical Journal,
731
(1):
76
[10.1088/0004-637x/731/1/76]
[Journal Article/Letter]
2011.
"A Search for Additional Planets in Five of the Exoplanetary Systems Studied by the NASA EPOXI Mission.",
The Astrophysical Journal,
732
41[Full Text]
[10.1088/0004-637X/732/1/41]
[Journal Article/Letter]
