The following graphic contains a non-exclusive list of potential science exploitation by Kepler Guest Observers (GOs). GO investigations are not limited to these science areas and GO proposals investigating other sources and science are encouraged. The formalized scope of allowed GO proposals is provided below the graphic.
SCOPE
The Kepler Guest Observer (GO) Office solicits
proposals from the astronomy community for the acquisition and
analysis of new scientific data from the Kepler mission. Kepler is
the tenth mission launched under NASA's Discovery Program. During
its 3.5-year prime mission, Kepler will continuously monitor a 105
square degree field-of-view (FOV) in the Cygnus region (α =
19h 22m 40s, δ = 44° 30' 00''), with the objective of
photometrically detecting transits of Earth-size planets in the
habitable zones of stars in the solar neighborhood. The
instrument’s high- precision photometric capability, with two
available cadence modes (1-min and 30-min), is also well-suited to advance
asteroseismology research and other variability analyses of both
Galactic and extragalactic sources.
We expect observations associated with the cycle 2
Kepler Guest Observer solicitations to begin following
the summer quarterly roll within June 2010. Proposals
submitted to this program should be for new observations only and
should address areas of astrophysics outside of the exoplanet Key
Project study. GO programs may not involve observations of targets
being monitored in the mission’s Key Project of surveying transits of
solar-like stars. The
Kepler Data
Search Form provides information on all targets which have been observed to date. The
Kepler Target Search Form provides
information on all sources within the Kepler Field of View, either observed or unobserved, and is largely complete down to a magnitude of
mkep = 19.
Protected Key Project targets are identified within the Target Search Tables by owning an Availability Flag of value '2'. All other targets within the field are open to the GO program.
Members of the Kepler Project will not conduct any
investigation upon GO target data that is unrelated to the
search for exoplanets. However, the GO must be prepared for any of their
targets
that show the presence of a transiting planet being investigated by the
Kepler Project. If a planet is found, it will be announced, and
published by the Project. The associated GO will be invited to
participate in the exoplanet investigation.
A publicity flyer for the Kepler Guest Observer (GO) Program can be downloaded from here. Feel free to display it on department, walls, doors and coffee tables.
