Example Cases

This page describes specific kinds of results from a KFUN observation.  The emails referred to are from the KFUN email list which is restricted to members.  See the past emails about these targets to learn about how we determined what they were.  Thanks to Jon for putting this together!

  • Expired as an NEB (KS36C014494): see single email with subject line "Observations of KS36C014494 20150917 - Filter = Ic - Exp = 40s". Target expired as a "Nearby EB (NEB)", since there is no transit/eclipse in the target star, but there is a deep eclipse in a neighboring fainter star. 

  • Expired as an EB (KS37C051025): This target was expired because measurements of the transit/eclipse taken in different bandpasses show different depths. This tells us the ecllipse is chromatic, and is an EB (or an unresolved EB blended with the target star). Also, when the period is doubled, we see both a primary and secondary eclipse with clear depth differences (again pointing towards EB). See these emails:

    • "KS37C051025 on 27Jun16" showing a 40 mmag event in I-band

    • "KS27C051025 - 20170520 - Filter = B - Exp = 300s" showing a 20 mmag event in B-band.    Note that the R-band light curve also looks like a more-shallow eclipse, but since the observation misses both ingress and egress, we don't actually get a depth measurement from that observation.


  • Expired as Spurious (KS38C073639): This target was expired because there is apparently no real transit/eclipse in the star at the predicted ephemeris (because the signal was likely caused by noise or some systematic effect in the KELT telescope). See these two emails:

    • "KS38C073639 in Rc on 11 Feb 17 UT" The predicted ~18 mmag event is not seen in Phil's observation. We decided to check a different ephemeris (at double the period, but covering the other phase). 

    • "KS38C073639 in Rc on 09 May 17" Again there is no transit/eclipse seen- just a flat light curve in the target star. Now it is expired as spurious. 

  • Planet! (KC21C03846): see the following emails

    • "KC21C03846 on UT_2016_04_15 - Kutztown University - V" First observation shows a flat-bottomed transit. Next step is to get another observation in a different filter (not V-band).

    • "KC21C03846 UT2016.04.15 from MORC in g' and i' " Simultaneous  g' and i' light curves show a consistent depth. 

    • "KC21C03846 on UT2016-06-20 in I-band from WCO" Another different filter showing the same depth. Time to get spectroscopic observations, to measure the radial velocity of the star and make sure the companion is not stellar-mass. If the dynamical mass of the transiting body (the planet) is consistent with planetary, then the planet is essentially confirmed.

News

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KELT Transit Search to conclude after 17 years of work

Mar 09

After 14 years of observations, 17 years since the project conception, 26 planets discovered, and dozens of papers, the KELT transit search is ending. This transition has been long-expected, since the NASA TESS mission has revolutionized the discovery of transiting exoplanets. We will continue observations by both KELT telescopes for as long as practical, since there is so much more science to be done outside of transit discovery. Thank you to everyone who supported the KELT project!

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KELT website receives Award of Distinction at the 25th Annual Communicator Awards

Jun 07

We are honored to have received the Award of Distinction at the 25th Annual Communicator Awards from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for this website, together with our web design partners at 3twenty9 Design, LLC.

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New 'hot Jupiter' with short orbital period discovered

Jul 12

(Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a new "hot Jupiter" exoplanet with a short orbital period of just three and a half days. The newly detected giant planet, designated KELT-20b, circles a rapidly rotating star known as HD 185603 (or KELT-20). The finding was presented in a paper published July 5 on arXiv.org.

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Mysterious Stellar Eclipse Point To A Giant Ringed Gas Planet Surrounded By A Ring Of Dust

Jun 07

Scientists have discovered a giant ringed gas planet which is likely caused by a mysterious stellar eclipse. The planet has 50 times mass of Jupiter and it is surrounded by a ring of dust. According to researchers from the University of Warwick, this planet is hurtling around a star more than 1000 light years away from Earth.

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