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Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto

Planets or Spots: tests and diagnostics in single and multi-planet systems

P. Figueira, N. C. Santos, X. Bonfils, N. Huélamo, C. Melo, M. Gillon, R. Azevedo, S. Udry, M. Mayor, HARPS team, CORALIE team

Abstract
Extrasolar planet searches blossomed and prospered under the auspices of the radial velocity method. However, efficient as it is, it can misinterpret a periodic signal created by stellar phenomena as being originated from a planet. The most common of these is the presence of a cold spot, frequent in active stars. Here we review the representative cases of HD 166435, GJ 674 and TW Hya and the different methods used to pinpoint the spots' presence. We finish by underlining the importance of infrared measurements, as done in the TW Hya campaign, as a way of reducing the effect of spots on radial velocity measurements to a negligible level.

Extrasolar Planets in Multi-Body Systems: Theory and Observations
(Eds.) K. Goździewski, A. Niedzielski, J. Schneider

European Astronomical Society Publication Series
Vol. 42, Page 131
2010

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Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences

Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) is a new but long anticipated research infrastructure with a national dimension. It embodies a bold but feasible vision for the development of Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Sciences in Portugal, taking full advantage and fully realizing the potential created by the national membership of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO). IA resulted from the merging the two most prominent research units in the field in Portugal: the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) and the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics of the University of Lisbon (CAAUL). It currently hosts more than two-thirds of all active researchers working in Space Sciences in Portugal, and is responsible for an even greater fraction of the national productivity in international ISI journals in the area of Space Sciences. This is the scientific area with the highest relative impact factor (1.65 times above the international average) and the field with the highest average number of citations per article for Portugal.

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