Search for Exomoons using timing variations in planetary transits

Abstract

Among the exoplanets detection methods, the planetary transits has been of great importance in the last few years, with a large number of discoveries and important space missions ongoing. More recently, researchers have been studying the possibility of detecting exomoons. The most promising technique for that is planetary transits. Presently, we are developing our PhD program with a search for exomoons and rings around exoplanets. To achieve that, we built an IDL program, wich performs some measurements in CoRoT and Kepler lightcurves. We are proposing that part of this research is done in collaboration with researchers from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Specifically, we intend to improve the fitting process of the lightcurves, and also the search for timing effects. This work is very important to the PhD project, increasing the chances of detecting an exomoon or exorings. (AU)