The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS)

P J Wheatley ,Philipp Eigmüller,Katherine Lawrie,Andrés Jordán,Bruno Chazelas,Andrew Grange,Marion Neveu,Nigel Bannister,M R Goad ,J Cabrera ,D Queloz ,L Genolet ,H Rauer ,C A Watson ,M R Burleigh ,D Pollacco ,R G West ,Tom Louden ,J Mccormac ,A Erikson ,J Bento ,Simón R Walker

doi:10.1051/epjconf/20134713002

Abstract

The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) is a new ground-based sky survey designed to find transiting Neptunes and super-Earths. By covering at least sixteen times the sky area of Kepler we will find small planets around stars that are sufficiently bright for radial velocity confirmation, mass determination and atmospheric characterisation. The NGTS instrument will consist of an array of twelve independently pointed 20cm telescopes fitted with red-sensitive CCD cameras. It will be constructed at the ESO Paranal Observatory, thereby benefiting from the very best photometric conditions as well as follow up synergy with the VLT and E-ELT. Our design has been verified through the operation of two prototype instruments, demonstrating white noise characteristics to sub-mmag photometric precision. Detailed simulations show that about thirty bright super-Earths and up to two hundred Neptunes could be discovered. Our science operations are due to begin in 2014.

Highlights

By covering at least sixteen times the sky area of Kepler, we will find small planets around stars that are sufficiently bright for radial velocity confirmation, mass determination and atmospheric characterisation
The Next Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) instrument will consist of an array of twelve independently pointed 20 cm telescopes fitted with red-sensitive CCD cameras
Building on experience gained in the WASP project, we have designed the Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) with the primary aim of discovering transiting Neptunes and Super-Earths around bright stars from the ground

Summary

INTRODUCTION

EPJ Web of Conferences consequence, their masses are often unknown or poorly known, placing only weak constraints on their bulk composition. Most of these planets are too faint for atmospheric characterisation, even with future instrumentation such as the E-ELT, JWST, EChO or FINESSE. Building on experience gained in the WASP project, we have designed the Generation Transit Survey (NGTS) with the primary aim of discovering transiting Neptunes and Super-Earths around bright stars from the ground. Our brightest Neptunes and Super-Earths will be suitable for atmospheric characterisation by transmission spectroscopy and secondary eclipse observations

THE NGTS INSTRUMENT

THE NGTS PROTOTYPES

SIMULATED PLANET CATCH