Estimated time to launch +/- 90 d.
With PLATO's end-of-2026 launch-date approaching, we move closer to the PLATO goals to find and measure a planet with Earth's mass, radius, orbit, age and a solar like host-star. That is a one for all measures relative to some solar system properties, or a one-planet, for short.
The PLATO-Mercurytest moves to longer periods, much more challenging with the longer transits, often exceeding the length of the night, but much more like in the solar system. Indeed the goal ist to start the overlap with our system, one of the firsts of the PLATO concept.
The partner and data-collector is again the Czech Astronomical Society's Variable Star and Exoplanet Section with their Exoplanet Transit Database (ETD) and TRESCA!
Help us, take the challenge, and try to observe planets in the 80 d period-class.
Go for the PLATO-Mercurytest and Go PLATO!
Thanks again!
Günther Wuchterl
Kuffner-Observatory, Vienna-Ottakring 2024-10-03
The PLATO space telescopes are designed to find and measure terrestrial planets with orbits typical for the inner solar system. PLATO will go were its precursors CoRoT an Kepler had to stop. It will measure bright stars, as the NASA mission TESS already does, in search for shorter period planets. This provides a unique opportunity to gain experience with small telescopes, an experience that will be needed once PLATO is in orbit.
The data obtained will serve the support of TESS and the development of an optimised instrument, the PLATO PlanetValidator, which will be tuned for testing the planet candidates of bright stars. The PlanetValidator will also allow the measurement of the properties of large PLATO-planets with small telescopes.
PLATO's and TESS' return to the bright stars puts small telecopes back into the focus of astronomy. They allow tests of PLATO and TESS transit-signals: are they "true" planets or "fake" signals?
Recommended equipment / experience:
More information below.
Impressum und Datenschutzerklärung: Verein Kuffner-Sternwarte