The 2MASS photometric calibration observations cover ~6 square degrees on the sky in 35 "calibration fields" each sampled in nominal photometric conditions between 562 and 3692 times during the four years of the 2MASS mission. We compile a catalog of variables from the calibration observations to search for M dwarfs transited by extra-solar planets. We present our methods for measuring periodic and non-periodic flux variability. From 7554 sources with apparent Ks magnitudes between 5.6 and 16.1, we identify 247 variables, including extragalactic variables and 23 periodic variables. We have discovered three M dwarf eclipsing systems, including two candidates for transiting extrasolar planets.
@article{arxiv.0709.1182,
title = {Near-Infrared Variability in the 2MASS Calibration Fields: A Search for Planetary Transit Candidates},
author = {Peter Plavchan and M. Jura and J. Davy Kirkpatrick and Roc M. Cutri and S. C. Gallagher},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0709.1182},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
The Astrophysical Journal Supplement, in press; figures compressed