NEID Telescope Observations Enhance Detection of Earth-like Planets

Recent observations from the NEID Solar Telescope at WIYN Observatory have provided significant insights into the effects of solar variability on the detection of Earth-like planets. The study, titled "Earths within Reach: Evaluation of Strategies for Mitigating Solar Variability using 3.5 years of NEID Sun-as-a-Star Observations," spans data collected from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024, encompassing 117,060 observations that were minimally impacted by weather or calibration issues.

The NEID telescope demonstrated impressive performance, achieving radial velocity (RV) accuracy and long-term stability of approximately 0.37 m/s over the observation period. This is notable considering that NEID was not specifically designed for daytime solar observations. The primary challenge identified in detecting Earth-analog planets around Sun-like stars is intrinsic stellar variability.

The research compares various methods aimed at mitigating the impact of solar variability on RV estimates. Among these, the Scalpels algorithm was highlighted for its effectiveness, reducing the root mean square (RMS) RV of solar spectra from over 2 m/s to 0.277 m/s. Even when tested on a separate sample, the cleaned RV measurements remained between 0.34 and 0.42 m/s, indicating a substantial improvement over previous techniques.

The findings suggest that current exoplanet research instruments are capable of detecting Earth-mass planets orbiting solar twins, provided they receive adequate observational time, estimated at around 1,000 nights. This advancement could enhance our understanding of potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

For further details, the full paper can be accessed at arXiv:2408.13318.