Peter Plavchan
A5021751440- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
- Spectroscopy and Laser Applications
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- History and Developments in Astronomy
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Advanced Measurement and Metrology Techniques
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Technology Assessment and Management
- Inertial Sensor and Navigation
George Mason University
2018-2025
California Institute of Technology
2009-2023
University of California, San Diego
2022-2023
Rochester Institute of Technology
2022
Missouri State University
2014-2018
Max Planck Society
2018
Infrared Processing and Analysis Center
2008-2016
NASA Exoplanet Science Institute
2009-2015
Southeast Missouri State University
2015
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2012
We describe the catalogs assembled and algorithms used to populate revised TESS Input Catalog (TIC), based on incorporation of Gaia second data release. also a ranking system for prioritizing stars 2-minute cadence observations, assemble Candidate Target List (CTL) using that ranking. The TIC is available Mikulski Archive Space Telescopes (MAST) server, an enhanced CTL through Filtergraph visualization portal at URL http://filtergraph.vanderbilt.edu/tess_ctl.
We describe the contents and functionality of NASA Exoplanet Archive, a database toolset funded by to support astronomers in exoplanet community. The current content includes interactive tables containing properties all published exoplanets, Kepler planet candidates, threshold-crossing events, data validation reports target stellar parameters, light curves from CoRoT missions several ground-based surveys, spectra radial velocity measurements literature. Tools provided work with these include...
We present the Coordinated Synoptic Investigation of NGC 2264, a continuous 30-day multi-wavelength photometric monitoring campaign on more than 1000 young cluster members using 16 telescopes. The unprecedented combination multi-wavelength, high-precision, high-cadence, and long-duration data opens new window into time domain behavior stellar objects. Here we provide an overview observations, focusing results from Spitzer CoRoT. highlight this work is detailed analysis 162 classical T Tauri...
\We present the sixth catalog of Kepler candidate planets based on nearly 4 years high precision photometry. This builds legacy previous catalogs released by project and includes 1493 new Objects Interest (KOIs) which 554 are planet candidates, 131 these candidates have best fit radii <1.5 R_earth. brings total number KOIs to 7305 4173 respectively. We suspect that many at low signal-to-noise limit may be false alarms created instrumental noise, discuss our efforts identify such objects....
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) will be conducting a nearly all-sky photometric survey over two years, with core mission goal to discover small transiting exoplanets orbiting nearby bright stars. It obtain 30-minute cadence observations of all objects in the TESS fields view, along 2-minute 200,000 400,000 selected choice which stars observe at 2-min is driven by need detect planets, leads selection primarily bright, cool dwarfs. We describe catalogs assembled and algorithms...
We present the results of a precise near-infrared (NIR) radial velocity (RV) survey 32 low-mass stars with spectral types K2-M4 using CSHELL at NASA IRTF in $K$-band an isotopologue methane gas cell to achieve wavelength calibration and novel iterative RV extraction method. surveyed 14 members young ($\approx$ 25-150 Myr) moving groups, field star $\varepsilon$ Eridani as well 18 nearby ($<$ 25 pc) achieved typical single-measurement precisions 8-15 m s$^{-1}$ long-term stability 15-50...
The Second Workshop on Extreme Precision Radial Velocities defined circa 2015 the state of art Doppler precision and identified critical path challenges for reaching 10 cm s−1 measurement precision. presentations discussion key issues instrumentation data analysis workshop recommendations achieving this bold are summarized here. Beginning with High Accuracy Velocity Planet Searcher spectrograph, technological advances radial velocity (RV) measurements have focused building extremely stable...
The Habitable Exoplanet Observatory, or HabEx, has been designed to be the Great Observatory of 2030s. For first time in human history, technologies have matured sufficiently enable an affordable space-based telescope mission capable discovering and characterizing Earthlike planets orbiting nearby bright sunlike stars order search for signs habitability biosignatures. Such a can also equipped with instrumentation that will broad exciting general astrophysics planetary science not possible...
We present initial results from time-series imaging at infrared wavelengths of 0.9 deg2 in the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). During Fall 2009 we obtained 81 epochs Spitzer 3.6 and 4.5 μm data over 40 consecutive days. extracted light curves with ∼3% photometric accuracy for ∼2000 ONC members ranging several solar masses down to well below hydrogen-burning mass limit. For many stars, also have photometry optical (Ic) and/or near-infrared (JKs) wavelengths. Our set can be mined determine stellar...
Expanding upon the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) survey from Dahm & Hillenbrand, we describe Spitzer IRAC and Multiband Imaging Photometer for observations of populous, 5 Myr old open cluster NGC 2362. We analyze mid-IR colors members compared their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) to star+circumstellar disk models constrain morphologies evolutionary states. Early/intermediate-type confirmed/candidate either have photospheric emission or weak, optically thin IR excess at λ ⩾ 24 μm...
We present results from the "Weather on Other Worlds" Spitzer Exploration Science program to investigate photometric variability in L and T dwarfs, usually attributed patchy clouds. surveyed 44 L3-T8 spanning a range of $J-K_s$ colors surface gravities. find that 14/23 (61%; 95% confidence interval: 41%-78%) our single L3-L9.5 dwarfs are variable with peak-to-peak amplitudes between 0.2% 1.5%, 5/16 (31%; 14%-56%) T0-T8 0.8% 4.6%. After correcting for sensitivity, we 80% (95% 53%-100%) vary...
(abridged) We present 24 and 70 micron MIPS observations of A through M-type dwarfs with estimated ages from 8 Myr to 1.1 Gyr, as part a Spitzer guaranteed time program. Our sample is selected stars common youth indicators such lithium abundance, X-ray activity, chromospheric rapid rotation. compare our empirically derived K-[24] colors function the stellar effective temperature identify excesses. confirm previously published excesses for HD 92945, 112429, AU Mic. discovery five stars: 7590,...
Based on more than four weeks of continuous high cadence photometric monitoring several hundred members the young cluster NGC 2264 with two space telescopes, NASA's Spitzer and CNES CoRoT (Convection, Rotation, planetary Transits), we provide quality, multi-wavelength light curves for stellar objects (YSOs) whose optical variability is dominated by short duration flux bursts, which infer are due to enhanced mass accretion rates. These show many brief -- hour one day brightenings at...
Abstract We present the discovery and validation of a three-planet system orbiting nearby (31.1 pc) M2 dwarf star TOI-700 (TIC 150428135). lies in TESS continuous viewing zone Southern Ecliptic Hemisphere; observations spanning 11 sectors reveal three planets with radii ranging from 1 R ⊕ to 2.6 orbital periods 9.98 37.43 days. Ground-based follow-up combined diagnostic vetting tests enables us rule out common astrophysical false-positive scenarios validate planets. The outermost planet, d,...
Future generations of precise radial velocity (RV) surveys aim to achieve sensitivity sufficient detect Earth mass planets orbiting in their stars' habitable zones. A major obstacle this goal is astrophysical RV noise caused by active areas moving across the stellar limb as a star rotates. In paper, we quantify how activity impacts exoplanet detection with velocities function orbital and rotational periods. We perform data-driven simulations rotation affects planet detectability compile...
We present a velocimetric and spectropolarimetric analysis of 27 observations the 22-Myr M1 star AU Microscopii (Au Mic) collected with high-resolution $YJHK$ (0.98-2.35 $\mu$m) spectropolarimeter SPIRou from 2019 September 18 to November 14. Our radial velocity (RV) time-series exhibits activity-induced fluctuations 45 m/s RMS, about three times smaller than those measured in optical domain, that we filter using Gaussian Process Regression. report 3.9$\sigma$-detection recently-discovered...
Abstract AU Mic is a young (∼24 Myr), pre-main-sequence M dwarf star that was observed in the first month of science observations Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and reobserved 2 years later. This target has photometric variability from variety sources readily apparent TESS light curves; spots induce modulation curve, flares are present throughout (manifesting as sharp rises with slow exponential decay phases), transits b may be seen by eye dips curve. We combined analysis both...
Abstract NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission promises to improve our understanding of hot Jupiters by providing an all-sky, magnitude-limited sample transiting suitable for population studies. Assembling such a requires confirming hundreds planet candidates with additional follow-up observations. Here we present 20 that were detected using TESS data and confirmed be planets through photometric, spectroscopic, imaging observations coordinated the Follow-up Observing...
We present a variability analysis of the early-release first quarter data publicly released by Kepler project. Using stellar parameters from Input Catalog, we have separated sample into 129,000 dwarfs and 17,000 giants, further sub-divided luminosity classes temperature bins corresponding approximately to spectral A, F, G, K, M. Utilizing inherent sampling time baseline public dataset (30 minute 33.5 day baseline), explored sample. The overall rate is 25% for entire sample, but can reach...
The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) photometric calibration observations cover ~6 square degrees on the sky in 35 "calibration fields", each sampled nominal conditions between 562 and 3692 times during 4 years of 2MASS mission. We compile a catalog variables from to search for M dwarfs transited by extrasolar planets. present our methods measuring periodic nonperiodic flux variability. From 7554 sources with apparent Ks magnitudes 5.6 16.1, we identify 247 variables, including...
The final assembly of terrestrial planets occurs via massive collisions, which can launch copious clouds dust that are warmed by the star and glow in infrared. We report real-time detection a debris-producing impact planet zone around 35-million year-old solar analog star. observed substantial brightening debris disk at 3-5 {\mu}m, followed decay over year, with quasi-periodic modulations flux. behavior is consistent occurrence violent produced vapor out thick cloud silicate spherules...
The YSOVAR (Young Stellar Object VARiability) Spitzer Space Telescope observing program obtained the first extensive mid-infrared (3.6 & 4.5 um) time-series photometry of Orion Nebula Cluster plus smaller footprints in eleven other star-forming cores (AFGL490, NGC1333, MonR2, GGD 12-15, NGC2264, L1688, Serpens Main, South, IRAS 20050+2720, IC1396A, and Ceph C). There are ~29,000 unique objects with light curves either or both IRAC channels data set. We present collection reduction for...
For the first time in human history, technologies have matured sufficiently to enable a mission capable of discovering and characterizing habitable planets like Earth orbiting sunlike stars other than Sun. At same time, such platform would unique science not possible from ground-based facilities. This is broad exciting, ranging new investigations our own solar system full range astrophysics disciplines. The Habitable Exoplanet Observatory, or HabEx, one four studies currently being...
We report observations of a possible young transiting planet orbiting previously known weak-lined T-Tauri star in the 7-10 Myr old Orion-OB1a/25-Ori region. The candidate was found as part Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) Orion project. It has photometric transit period 0.448413 +- 0.000040 days, and appears both 2009 2010 PTF data. Follow-up low-precision radial velocity (RV) adaptive optics imaging suggest that is not an eclipsing binary, it unlikely background source blended with target...
We present previously unpublished 2005 July H-band coronagraphic data of the young, planet-hosting star HR 8799 from newly released Keck/NIRC2 archive. Despite poor observing conditions, we detect three planets (HR bcd), two them bc) without advanced image processing. Comparing these with published 1998–2011 astrometry and that re-reduced 2010 October Keck constrains orbits planets. Analyzing planets' separately, d's orbit is likely inclined at least 25° face-on others may be on orbits. For...