Spitzer Space Telescope - Directors Discretionary Time Proposal #60003


The Spitzer Exoplanetary Atmosphere Survey

Principal Investigator: Joseph Harrington
           Institution: University of Central Florida

     Technical Contact: Joseph Harrington, University of Central Florida

Co-Investigators: 
Drake Deming, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center                      
Kevin Stevenson, University of Central Florida                        
Jonathan Fortney, University of California, Santa Cruz                
Nicolas Iro, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center                       
Gregory Laughlin, University of California, Santa Cruz                
Sara Seager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology                    
Giovanna Tinetti, University College, London, UK                      
Andrew Collier Cameron, University of St. Andrews, UK                 
Coel Hellier, Keele University, UK                                    
Don Pollacco, Queen's University Belfast, UK                          
Peter Wheatley, University of Warwick, UK                             
Gaspar Bakos, Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics             
Michael Gillon, Observatoire de Geneve, Switzerland                   
Didier Queloz, Observatoire de Geneve, Switzerland                    
Debra Fischer, San Francisco State University                         
Peter McCullough, Space Telescope Science Institute                   

Science Category: extrasolar planets 
 Observing Modes: IracPostCryoMap 
  Hours Approved: 200.0 

Abstract:
We propose a Target of Opportunity (ToO) program to observe photometric eclipses
and transits of extrasolar planets. Spitzer eclipses are the most fundamental
(and in many cases the only) direct exoplanetary measurements possible with
current instrumentation; transits measure the radius and eclipses the intrinsic
fluxes from these worlds. We will populate a figure of predicted equilibrium vs.
observed brightness temperatures, which is starting to show patterns indicating
different classes of atmospheric behavior. The observations will constrain
models of composition, chemistry, and atmospheric dynamics on each planet. The
events will also inform follow-on work with other telescopes for the brightest
targets. Based on discovery statistics, 25-35 new, observable, transiting
planets will be announced in 2009, and somewhat more in 2010. Also, a number of
known planets with good predicted signal have not yet been observed. We will
publish digital lightcurves with journal articles and submit them for archiving.
No comparable opportunity to observe exoplanets will be available until JWST.