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| Paper: |
Terrestrial-Planet Transits of M Stars |
| Volume: |
398, Extreme Solar Systems |
| Page: |
475 |
| Authors: |
Traub, W.A.; Cutri, R. |
| Abstract: |
We discuss the benefits of extending the Kepler survey to include up to 1630 M-dwarf stars. If there is one Earth-size planet in the habitable zone of each star, then we expect to detect about 11 transiting Earth-size planets. The transit depths are large, ranging from about 200 to 200,000 ppm. Transit times are about 0.5-3 hours, well matched to the Kepler temporal resolution. Stellar signals are on the faint end of the Kepler range, but the red bias of M stars will produce stronger signals than are indicated by the V magnitudes of these stars. Given that M-dwarf stars may have Earth-like analogs, and that Kepler is well-suited to observe these stars, we believe that such an investigation could yield very important results. In addition, and as a secondary goal, Kepler could search for inner giant planets (hot Jupiters) using photometry. |
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