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arXiv · 0809.3020

Observing Strategies for the NICI Campaign to Directly Image Extrasolar Planets

Beth Biller·Etienne Artigau·Zahed Wahhaj·Markus Hartung·Michael Liu·Laird M. Close·Mark R. Chun·Christ Ftaclas·Douglas W. Toomey·Thomas Hayward
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Abstract

We discuss observing strategy for the Near Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI) on the 8-m Gemini South telescope. NICI combines a number of techniques to attenuate starlight and suppress superspeckles: 1) coronagraphic imaging, 2) dual channel imaging for Spectral Differential Imaging (SDI) and 3) operation in a fixed Cassegrain rotator mode for Angular Differential Imaging (ADI). NICI will be used both in service mode and for a dedicated 50 night planet search campaign. While all of these techniques have been used individually in large planet-finding surveys, this is the first time ADI and SDI will be used with a coronagraph in a large survey. Thus, novel observing strategies are necessary to conduct a viable planet search campaign.

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Beth Biller, Etienne Artigau, Zahed Wahhaj, Markus Hartung, Michael Liu, Laird M. Close, Mark R. Chun, Christ Ftaclas, Douglas W. Toomey, Thomas Hayward. 2008-09-17. Observing Strategies for the NICI Campaign to Directly Image Extrasolar Planets. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.789565

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