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The K2 Mission: Characterization and Early Results.

Authors :
HOWELL, STEVE B.
SOBECK, CHARLIE
HAAS, MICHAEL
STILL, MARTIN
BARCLAY, THOMAS
MULLALLY, FERGAL
TROELTZSCH, JOHN
AIGRAIN, SUZANNE
BRYSON, STEPHEN T.
CALDWELL, DOUG
CHAPLIN, WILLIAM J.
COCHRAN, WILLIAM D.
HUBER, DANIEL
MARCY, GEOFFREY W.
MIGLIO, ANDREA
NAJITA, JOAN R.
SMITH, MARCIE
TWICKEN, J. D.
FORTNEY, JONATHAN J.
Source :
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Apr2014, Vol. 126 Issue 938, p398-408. 11p.
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

The K2 mission will make use of the Kepler spacecraft and its assets to expand upon Kepler's groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of exoplanets and astrophysics through new and exciting observations. K2 will use an innovative way of operating the spacecraft to observe target fields along the ecliptic for the next 2-3 years. Early science commissioning observations have shown an estimated photometric precision near 400 ppm in a single 30 minute observation, and a 6-hr photometric precision of 80 ppm (both at V ¼ 12). The K2 mission offers long-term, simultaneous optical observation of thousands of objects at a precision far better than is achievable from ground-based telescopes. Ecliptic fields will be observed for approximately 75 days enabling a unique exoplanet survey which fills the gaps in duration and sensitivity between the Kepler and TESS missions, and offers prelaunch exoplanet target identification for JWST transit spectroscopy. Astrophysics observations with K2 will include studies of young open clusters, bright stars, galaxies, supernovae, and asteroseismology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00046280
Volume :
126
Issue :
938
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
96122149
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1086/676406