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Paper: The University of New South Wales Extrasolar Planet Search
Volume: 366, Transiting Extrasolar Planets Workshop
Page: 45
Authors: Hidas, M.G.; Webb, J.K.; Ashley, M.C.B.; Philips, M.A.; Christiansen, J.L.; Hamacher, D.; Curran, S.J.; Irwin, M.; Aigrain, S.; Irwin, J.
Abstract: Our team at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) is searching for transiting extrasolar planets using the 0.5 m Automated Patrol Telescope (APT) at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. We monitor field stars in pairs of fields (2 × 3 degrees each) at intermediate galactic latitudes (15° ≤ |b| ≤ 45°), over runs of approximately two months. To date we have identified 62 planet candidates, though follow-up studies have shown most of these to be eclipsing binary stars. For three remaining candidates a planetary origin of the transit signal has not been ruled out. We are currently analysing follow-up data on two of these. A new CCD camera for the APT — currently under construction — will provide higher sensitivity, better image sampling, and up to an 8-fold increase in field of view, increasing our search efficiency accordingly.
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