Related papers: Monitoring young associations and open clusters wi…
Context. Transit detection algorithms are mathematical tools used for detecting planets in the photometric data of transit surveys. In this work we study their application to space-based surveys. Aims: Space missions are exploring the…
As a response to the Kepler white paper call, we propose to keep Kepler pointing to its current field of view and continue observing thousands of large amplitude variables (Cepheid, RR Lyrae and delta Scuti stars among others) with high…
The Kepler spacecraft provides new opportunities to search for long term frequency and amplitude modulations of oscillation modes in pulsating stars. We ana- lyzed nearly two years of uninterrupted data obtained with this instrument on the…
We are using the Isaac Newton Telescope Wide Field Camera to survey open cluster fields for transiting hot Jupiter planets. Clusters were selected on the basis of visibility, richness of stars, age and metallicity. Observations of NGC 6819,…
Knowledge of the orbits of visual binary stars has always been one of the fundamentals of astronomy. Based historically on the visual measures, nowadays the orbits rely more (or exclusively) on the accurate speckle data. This prompts…
Ariel, the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, was adopted as the fourth medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision programme to be launched in 2029. During its 4-year mission, Ariel will study what exoplanets are…
The knowledge of stellar ages directly impacts the characterization of a planetary system as it puts strong constraints on the moment when the system was born. Unfortunately, the determination of precise stellar ages is a very difficult…
Globular clusters rotate significantly, and with the increasing amount of detailed morphologicaland kinematical data obtained in recent years on galactic globular clusters many interesting features show up. We show how our theoretical…
We analyse the respective benefits and drawbacks of ground-based and space-based transit surveys for extrasolar planets. Based on simple but realistic assumptions about the fraction of lower main sequence stars harboring telluric and giant…
S-type planets, which orbit one component of multiple-star systems, place strong constraints on the planet formation and evolution models. A notable case study is Kepler-444, a triple-star system whose primary is orbited by five planets…
We use detailed simulations of the Gaia observations of synthetic planetary systems and develop and utilize independent software codes in double-blind mode to analyze the data, including statistical tools for planet detection and different…
The stable oscillations of pulsating stars can serve as accurate timepieces, which may be monitored for the influence of exoplanets. An external companion gravitationally tugs the host star, causing periodic changes in pulsation arrival…
We present an investigation of spin-orbit angles for planetary system candidates reported by Kepler. By combining the rotational period $P_s$ inferred from the flux variation due to starspots and the projected rotational velocity $V\sin…
A cluster finding method was developed and applied in four Local Group Galaxies (SMC, M31, M33 and NGC 6822). The aim is to study the young stellar population of these galaxies by identifying stellar structures in small and large scales.…
We analyze a 19-night photometric search for transiting extrasolar planets in the open cluster NGC 1245. An automated transit search algorithm with quantitative selection criteria finds six transit candidates; none are bona fide planetary…
Observations of clusters suffer from issues such as completeness, projection effects, resolving individual stars and extinction. As such, how accurate are measurements and conclusions are likely to be? Here, we take cluster simulations…
In this contribution I will discuss fundamental stellar parameters as determined from young star clusters; specifically those with ages less than or approximately equal to that of the Pleiades. I will focus primarily on the use of stellar…
The Kepler spacecraft provided the first long-baseline, high-precision photometry for large numbers of stars. This enabled the discovery of thousands of new exoplanets, and the characterization of myriad astrophysical phenomena. However,…
The Kepler Space Telescope has discovered thousands of planets via the transit method. The transit timing variations of these planets allows us not only to infer the existence of other planets, transiting or not, but to characterize a…
Models are developed to simulate lightcurves of stars dimmed by transiting exoplanets with and without rings. These models are then applied to \textit{Kepler} photometry to search for planetary rings in a sample of 21 exoplanets, mostly hot…