Project:	Exoplanet Watch (JPL AO No. 15189)
Disciplines:	Astronomy, Physics, Math, Engineering, or other related fields
Mentor:	Rob Zellem, (JPL), Robert.T.Zellem@jpl.nasa.gov, Phone: (626) 379-9418
Background:	NASA's Universe of Learning's Exoplanet Watch is a citizen science project, currently geared toward amateur astronomers and astronomy students at colleges and universities, to observe transiting exoplanets — planets outside our solar system — with small telescopes. A transiting exoplanet is a planet outside of our solar system that periodically passes in front of its host star, causing the star to appear to slightly dim (typically by ~1%). Observing exoplanet transits is important, as they provide direct measurement of a planet's radius and composition. Ground-based observations, particularly with small telescopes (<1 meter) constrain the exoplanet’s orbital period (how quickly a planet orbits around its host star) which in turn provides better mass measurements. Exoplanet Watch will help increase the efficiency of exoplanet studies by large telescopes to characterize exoplanet atmospheres by reducing uncertainty about the predicted timing of transit events.
Description:	The interns will largely work on developments to the EXOTIC data analysis code for the professional astronomy community. Such tasks include leading the development of a paper describing in detail our data reduction and analysis code EXOTIC by providing an in-depth analysis of some archival data, contributing Exoplanet Watch data to the ExoFOP to increase its visibility and use by the professional astronomy community, ingest TESS data into our pipeline, and help feed back to the NASA Exoplanet Archive missing parameters and units. The interns will also directly interact with our 2000+ users and create content/instructionals for them and also look into new ways to expand the project, particularly to underserved and underrepresented audiences.
References:	https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/exoplanet-watch/ http://github.com/rzellem/EXOTIC/
Student Requirements:	Python3 proficiency
Location / Safety:	Project building and/or room locations: . Student will need special safety training: .
Programs:	This AO can be done under the following programs:   Program    Available To        SURF@JPL    both Caltech and non-Caltech students  Click on a program name for program info and application requirements.