A dedicated exoplanet observatory

All four MINERVA telescopes, plus the MINERVA Red telescope located at FLWO taken in March 2018.

The MINiature Exoplanet Radial Velocity Array (MINERVA) is an array of small-aperture robotic telescopes outfitted for both photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy located at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory at Mt. Hopkins, Arizona. It is the first U.S. observatory dedicated to exoplanetary science capable of both precise radial velocity and transit studies. The multi-telescope concept is implemented to either observe separate targets or a single target with a larger effective aperture. The flexibility of the observatory maximizes scientific potential and also provides ample opportunities for education and public outreach. The design and implementation of MINERVA is carried out by professors, research associates, postdocs, and students at all levels at Harvard, University of Montana, Penn State, University of New South Wales, Caltech, UPenn, and University of Missouri.

Science Objectives

The primary science goal of MINERVA is to discover Earth-like planets in close-in (less than 50-day) orbits around nearby stars, and super-Earths (3-15 times the mass of Earth) in the habitable zones of the closest Sun-like stars. The secondary goal will be to look for transits (eclipses) of known and newly-discovered extrasolar planets, which provide information about the radii and interior structures of the planets. This second goal uses the proven method used by the Kepler Mission, and the unique design of the MINERVA observatory allows us to pursue both goals simultaneously.

Project Status

MINERVA began regular science operations at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory for imaging in May 2015. The spectrograph was delivered in Dec 2015 and began routine spectroscopic observations in 2016. MINERVA Red is being commissioned in 2019

Refereed Publications

M51 taken with an Andor camera mounted on T3 located at FLWO UT 2015-05-07. Credit: T. Beatty

Quick Facts

Status:

Full photometric science operations began in May 2015 at FLWO. The spectrograph was installed Dec 2015. MINERVA Red is being commissioned in 2019.

Location:

Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory:

-110° 53’ 07.4’’ +31° 41’ 18.2’’

Telescopes:

Four PlaneWave CDK700, 0.7m telescopes within 2 custom telescope enclosures designed by LCOGT engineers, plus one MINERVA Red Planewave CDK700 with astrohaven enclosure.

Cameras:

2k x 2k back illuminated CCD with 15µm pixels offering > 20’ f.o.v.

Spectrographs:

Stabilized, R = 75,000 echelle spectrograph with iodine cell for precise radial velocimetry designed by Callaghan Innovations (formerly KiwiStar Optics). MINERVA Red spectrograph is a stabilized echelle custom-built at UPenn, R=50,000 with UNe calibration lamps.

Team Members:

Jason Eastman (CfA):

Principle Investigator

Cullen Blake (UPenn):

MINERA Co-I, MINERVA Red PI

Peter Plavchan (GMU):

Co-Investigator

Jason Wright (PSU):

Co-Investigator

Nate McCrady (UM):

Co-Investigator

Rob Wittenmyer (USQ):