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EPOXI

Two intriguing investigations -- One flight-proven spacecraft

Observing Challenge

Observing Challenge

Observing the Transits
Amateurs have played in important role in the observations of exoplanet transits. The observations are not easy, but they are doable. To learn more

Observe the stars

Although the transits are very challenging to observe, an easier goal is to just see the target stars. The selected stars are dim because we don't want them to saturate the spacecraft instruments but they are bright enough to be visible in amateur telescopes if the sky conditions are good and the skies are dark.

TrES-3

TrES-3 chart TrES-3 = GSC 03089-00929 is a magnitude 12.4, G-class star located in the constellation Hercules.

Top: Shows the position of the star relative to the constellations. North is left and east is down. The constellations are shown as they might appear in the evening sky in the northern hemisphere in spring. During the summer, Hercules is pretty much overhead.

 

TrES-3 chart Bottom: TrES-3 is marked as USNO J1752071+373244 in this 2° x 1° field of view along with other stars. The size of the dots is relative to their brightness.
RA: 17h 52m 07.02s
dec: +37° 32' 46.2"

If you need some more help identifying it, there is also a 15'x10' chart.


GJ436

GJ436 chart GJ436 = HIP 57087 = LHS310 is a magnitude 10.7, M2.5-class star located in the constellation Leo. At a little over 33 LY, this reddish star is one of the closer ones that EPOCh is observing.

Top: Shows the position of the star relative to the constellations. North is right and east is up. The constellations are shown as they might appear in the evening sky in the northern hemisphere in mid-July.

 

GJ436 chart Bottom: GJ436 is at the center of this view from Aladin.
RA: 11h 42m 11.09s
dec: +26° 42' 23.7"


HAT-P-4

HAT-P-4 chart HAT-P-4 = SAO 64638 = TYC 2569-1599-1 is a magnitude 11, G-class star located in the constellation Boötes.

Top: Shows the position of the star relative to the constellations. North is left and east is down. The constellations are shown as they might appear in the evening sky in the northern hemisphere in spring.

 

HAT-P-4 chart Bottom: HAT-P-4 is marked as TYC 2569-1599-1 in this 2° x 1° field of view along with other stars. The size of the dots is relative to their brightness.
RA: 15h 19m 57.93s
dec: +36° 13' 46.8"