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EXPLORE/OC: A Search for Planetary Transits in the Field of NGC 2660

Kaspar von Braun·Brian Lee·Gabriela Mallen-Ornelas·Howard Yee·Sara Seager·Mike Gladders
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Abstract

We present preliminary photometric results of a monitoring study of the open cluster NGC 2660 as part of the EXPLORE/OC project to find planetary transits in Galactic open clusters. Analyzing a total of 21000 stars (3000 stars with photometry to 1% or better) yielded three light curves with low-amplitude signals like those typically expected for transiting hot Jupiters. Although their eclipses are most likely caused by non-planetary companions, our methods and photometric precision illustrate the potential to detect planetary transits around stars in nearby open clusters.

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Kaspar von Braun, Brian Lee, Gabriela Mallen-Ornelas, Howard Yee, Sara Seager, Mike Gladders. 2003-12-08. EXPLORE/OC: A Search for Planetary Transits in the Field of NGC 2660. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0312217

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