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Feasibility of Exoplanet Coronagraphy with the Hubble Space TelescopeHerein we report on a preliminary study to assess the use of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for the direct detection and spectroscopic characterization of exoplanets and debris disks - an application for which HST was not originally designed. Coronagraphic advances may enable the design of a science instrument that could achieve limiting contrasts approx.10deg beyond 275 milli-arcseconds (4 lambda/D at 800 nm) inner working angle, thereby enabling detection and characterization of several known jovian planets and imaging of debris disks. Advantages of using HST are that it already exists in orbit, it's primary mirror is thermally stable and it is the most characterized space telescope yet flown. However there is drift of the HST telescope, likely due to thermal effects crossing the terminator. The drift, however, is well characterized and consists of a larger deterministic components and a smaller stochastic component. It is the effect of this drift versus the sensing and control bandwidth of the instrument that would likely limit HST coronagraphic performance. Herein we discuss the science case, quantifY the limiting factors and assess the feasibility of using HST for exoplanet discovery using a hypothetical new instrument. Keywords: Hubble Space Telescope, coronagraphy, exoplanets, telescopes
Document ID
20110015298
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lyon, Richard G. (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Woodruff, Robert A. (Lockheed Martin Corp. Denver, CO, United States)
Brown, Robert (Space Telescope Science Inst. Baltimore, MD, United States)
Noecker, M. Charley (Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. Boulder, CO, United States)
Cheng, Edward (Conceptual Analytics, LLC Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 2010
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.CPR.4894.2011
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE 7731, Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, San Diego CA, June 2010
Location: San Diego, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 1, 2010
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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