Provide a statistically significant value for the
frequency of Earth-size and larger planets in and near the
habitable zone.
Characterize the size and orbital distributions of such
planets.
Identify correlations between the presence and
characteristics of planetary systems with stellar properties of
the host star.
In addition to the Key Project, there are other organized research projects associated with the Kepler mission, including studies involving asteroseismology, cluster stars, gyrochronology, and astrometry. However, only the active Key Project targets are protected from GO observation. In the event of overlap between GO and non-Key Project mission studies, the data will be distributed to both parties and the involved GO investigator(s) will not have exclusive access to their data. In such cases, collaborations are encouraged, but not required. Proposals with novel scientific objectives or approaches that expand the current range of science issues to be addressed using Kepler data, capitalize on the mission’s unique capabilities, and minimize replication of ongoing investigations, are encouraged.
GUEST OBSERVER/KASC DATA SHARING POLICY
The Kepler Asteroseismic
Science Consortium (KASC) is a collaboration between the
Kepler Team and community asteroseismologists with
pre-determined guaranteed targets. The
policies of this collaboration have been chosen carefully to ensure
asteroseismological expoitation of Kepler data without
retricting targets or science in the GO program. Those policies
are summarized here:
The initial KASC target list
contains 1,500 long cadence targets. Most of these targets
will be observed continuously throughout the mission. The
KASC target list also contains 5,000 short cadence targets,
each will be observed for one month only. After Jun 2010 the
KASC will trim this target list down to 500 sources which is
their final short cadence target list. 140 of these will be
observed each month during the primary mission.
At any time during the mission a KASC target can be
selected by a GO for observations and, if selected by the Target
Allocation Committee (TAC), the GO and KASC will share data. Note data
sharing will only occur for the months where KASC and GO programs
overlap. GOs and the KASC may observe the same target with different
cadences. Only the cadence proposed by the GO will be delivered.
GOs cannot block the KASC from observing stars on the
initial KASC list. The KASC cannot block any approved GO
observing.
If the KASC asks to selects a new target in Jun 2010 that
is not on the original
list then it can only become a KASC target if it is not a
GO target.
Potential GOs should note that they have three distinct
advantages over the KASC:
GO are funded through NASA grants, the KASC is not.
All KASC data is filtered before delivery to remove all
photometric structure on timescales resembling exoplanet
transits. GO data is not, even when data is shared between the
KASC and a GO.
GOs are not bound by Kepler Team publication policy.
