Abstract
The discovery of extra-solar planets is arguably the most exciting development in astrophysics during the past 15 years, rivalled only by the detection of dark energy. Two projects unite the communities of exoplanet scientists and cosmologists: the proposed ESA M class mission EUCLID and the large space mission WFIRST, top ranked by the Astronomy 2010 Decadal Survey report. The later states that: "Space-based microlensing is the optimal approach to providing a true statistical census of planetary systems in the Galaxy, over a range of likely semi-major axes". They also add: "This census, combined with that made by the Kepler mission, will determine how common Earth-like planets are over a wide range of orbital parameters". We will present a status report of the results obtained by microlensing on exoplanets and the new objectives of the next generation of ground based wide field imager networks. We will finally discuss the fantastic prospect offered by space based microlensing at the horizon 2020-2025.
Highlights
MICROLENSING PLANET HUNTINGThe number of exoplanets discovered during the last fifteen years is above 850
2300 candidates from Kepler), with a sharp increase in the last years
Two projects unite the communities of exoplanet scientists and cosmologists: the proposed ESA M class mission EUCLID and the large space mission WFIRST, top ranked by the Astronomy 2010 Decadal Survey report
Summary
The number of exoplanets discovered during the last fifteen years is above 850 Recent work on MOA 2011-BLG-262 has shown that, with microlensing technics, it is already possible to detect exomoons of the mass of Mars orbiting free floating planets and around distant planets from their star After this pioneer detection (to be published most likely spring 2013), as part of EARTH-HUNTER, we will do a systematic search for such systems. The report stated: “Space-based microlensing is the optimal approach to providing a true statistical census of planetary systems in the Galaxy, over a range of likely semi-major axes” They added: “This census, combined with that made by the Kepler mission, will determine how common Earth-like planets are over a wide range of orbital parameters”.
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