Precision Space Astrometry as a Tool to Find Earth-like Exoplanets

Because of the recent technological advances, the key technologies needed for precision space optical astrometry are now in hand. The Microarcsecond Astrometry Probe (MAP) mission concept is designed to find 1 Earth mass planets at 1AU orbit (scaled to solar luminosity) around the nearest ~90 FGK st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2018-03
Main Authors: Shao, Michael, Turyshev, Slava G, Bendek, Eduardo, Fischer, Debra, Guyon, Olivier, McArthur, Barbara, Muterspaugh, Matthew, Zhai, Chengxing, Boehm, Celine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astrometry
Extrasolar planets
Focal plane
Luminosity
Metrology
Missions
Planet detection
Planetary mass
Planetary orbits
Subsystems
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Summary:Because of the recent technological advances, the key technologies needed for precision space optical astrometry are now in hand. The Microarcsecond Astrometry Probe (MAP) mission concept is designed to find 1 Earth mass planets at 1AU orbit (scaled to solar luminosity) around the nearest ~90 FGK stars. The MAP payload includes i) a single three-mirror anastigmatic telescope with a 1-m primary mirror and metrology subsystems, and ii) a camera. The camera focal plane consists of 42 detectors, providing a Nyquist sampled FOV of 0.4-deg. Its metrology subsystems ensure that MAP can achieve the 0.8 uas astrometric precision in 1 hr, which is required to detect Earth-like exoplanets in our stellar neighborhood. MAP mission could provide ~10 specific targets for a much larger coronagraphic mission that would measure its spectra. We argue for the development of the space astrometric missions capable of finding Earth-2.0. Given the current technology readiness such missions relying on precision astrometry could be flown in the next decade, perhaps in collaboration with other national space agencies.
ISSN:2331-8422