PICSAT : observing the transit of exoplanet β-Pictoris b

(report 2017)

β Pictoris b is a young still forming planet at only 19.3 parsecs from the Sun and therefore the closest that we know of. With an age of only 20 million years, it is a perfect object of study for understanding the formation mechanism of giant planets. Because the system is seen edge-on, there is a unique possibility that the planet transits in front of its star. It is a rare event, taking place only once every 18 years. This transit could take place during the end of 2017, with an uncertainty of three months. The PICSAT project is a dedicated space-based photometric observatory to observe this unique object. The launch of PicSat is scheduled for December 2017.

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(β-Pictoris in the infrared. Credits : ESO/A.-M. Lagrange et al.)

Contact : Vincent Lapeyrere (project lead) vincent.lapeyrere @ obspm.fr

See also : PICSAT website