[en] In February 2013, the LEECH (LBTI Exozodi Exoplanet Common Hunt) survey began its 100-night campaign from the Large Binocular Telescope atop Mount Graham in Arizona. LEECH neatly complements other high-contrast planet imaging efforts by observing stars in L' band (3.8 microns) as opposed to the shorter wavelength near-infrared bands (1-2.3 microns). This part of the spectrum offers deeper mass sensitivity for intermediate age (several hundred Myr-old) systems, since their Jovian-mass planets radiate predominantly in the mid-infrared. In this proceedings, we present the science goals for LEECH and a preliminary contrast curve from some early data.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Skemer, Andrew; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Apai, Daniel; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Bailey, Vanessa; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Biller, Beth; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Bonnefoy, Mickael; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Brandner, Wolfgang; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Buenzli, Esther; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Close, Laird; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Crepp, Justin; Department of Physics, Notre Dame University
Defrere, Denis ; Université de Liège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Astroph. extragalactique et observations spatiales (AEOS)
Desidera, Silvano; Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
Eisner, Josh; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Esposito, Simone; Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica
Fortney, Jonathan; Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of California, Santa Cruz
Henning, Thomas; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Hinz, Phil; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Hofmann, Karl-Heinz; Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
Leisenring, Jarron; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Males, Jared; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Millan-Gabet, Rafael; NASA Exoplanet Science Institute, California Institute of Technology
Morzinski, Katie; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Oza, Apurva; Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia
Pascucci, Ilaria; Department of Planetary Sciences, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona
Patience, Jenny; School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University
Rieke, George; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Schertl, Dieter; Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
Schlieder, Joshua; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Skrutskie, Mike; Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia
Su, Kate; Steward Observatory, Department of Astronomy, University of Arizona
Weigelt, Gerd; Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy
Woodward, Charles E.; Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, University of Minnesota
Zimmerman, Neil; Max Planck Institute for Astronomy)
