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Introduction
MINERVA will be an array of small-aperture robotic telescopes built atop Palomar Mountain outfitted for both photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy. It will be the first U.S. observatory dedicated to exoplanetary science capable of both precise radial velocimetry and transit studies. The multi-telescope concept will be implemented to either observe separate targets or a single target with a larger effective aperture. The flexibility of the observatory will maximize scientific potential and also provide ample opportunities for education and public outreach. The design and implementation of MINERVA will be carried out by postdoctoral and student researchers at Caltech.
Project Status
The development and implementation of MINERVA will take place in 4 stages. The project is currently in the conceptual design stage (Phase 0). Selection of hardware components are being finalized as well as designs for the telescope enclosures, spectrometer structure, and fiber acquisition unit. A site survey on Palomar Mountain is now underway to determine the optimal site for the project in consideration of the primary science goals and environmental impact.
Expected project elements include:
- Science Program 1: Detect low-mass planets orbiting bright, nearby stars using nightly, high-precision (~1 m/s) radial velocimetry.
- Science Program 2: Detect low-mass, transiting exoplanets.
- Science Program 3: Highly precise light curves for newly discovered transiting exoplanets.
- Science Program 4: High cadence follow-up RV and photometric observations of known multi-planet systems.
- EPO Program 1: New observational lab courses at host institutions.
- EPO Program 2: Summer Undergraduate Research Programs.
- EPO Program 3: Mulit-Institution E/PO involvement.
Team Meetings and Reviews
What's New?
Latest Image
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Partnership
MINERVA is a partnership between Caltech and Penn State.
Project Team
- John Johnson (Caltech): Principal Investigator
- Jason Wright (PSU): Co-Investigator
- Phil Muirhead (Caltech): Co-Investigator
- Jon Swift (Caltech): Project Manager
- Michael Bottom (Caltech): Implementation
- Paul Gardner (Caltech): Engineer
- Richard Dekany (Caltech): Systems Engineering
- Dan McKenna (Caltech): Site Manager
- Ming Zhao (PSU):
Telescope Enclosure
Aqawan preliminary design (A. Hjelstrom, LCOGT)
Spectrometer
Kiwispec
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Project Documentation |
Technical Library
Organized by Product Breakdown Structure |
Project Team
MINERVA Personnel Directory
Integrated Product Teams |
Members (Lead) |
Meetings (Pacific Time) |
Location |
Management |
(Johnson), Swift, Dekany |
Various |
Caltech/JPL |
Systems Enginieering |
(Muirhead), Gardner, Bottom |
Various |
Caltech/JPL |
Infrastructure |
(Swift), Bottom, Johnson |
Various |
Caltech/JPL |
Software |
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Various |
Caltech/JPL |
Integration & Testing |
(Bottom), Muirhead, Johnson, Swift |
Various |
Caltech/JPL |
Performance |
(Bottom), Muirhead, Johnson, Swift |
Various |
Caltech/JPL |
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Related links
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This topic: Palomar/MINERVA
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Topic revision: r34 - 2012-02-07 - RichardDekany